about
Percussionist George Barton has been described as “a boundless musical explorer” (Tom Service, BBC R3). His work brings rigour and intensity to chamber music, solo playing, film sessions, free improvisation, and orchestral work, as well as arranging and conducting.
With pianist Siwan Rhys George forms GBSR Duo, whose repertoire ranges from Stockhausen and Ustvolskaya to Aphex Twin and Harold Budd, and whose collaborators range from the LA Philharmonic to experimental artists Angharad Davies and CHAINES. In 2025 GBSR won the Royal Philharmonic Society's Young Artist Award and are in residence at Darmstädter Ferienkurse.
George is a member of the Colin Currie Group and Riot Ensemble and has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Britten Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Explore Ensemble, Apartment House, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, CHROMA, Nash Ensemble and many others.
His arrangements have been performed by groups including the BBC Concert Orchestra, 12 Ensemble, London Contemporary Orchestra and Colin Currie Quartet. His arrangement of Harold Budd & Brian Eno's Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror for 12 Ensemble was described as "a beautifully imaginative reworking, done with great tact and refinement" by Andrew Clements in The Guardian.
He has performed chamber music at various venues around the UK and abroad, including the Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam, Cité de la Musique, Philharmonie and Maison de la Radio, Paris, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tokyo Opera City, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.
photo © Aaron Holloway-Nahum