Peter Stark - Principal Conductor
Peter Stark’s performances are exhilarating, imaginative and thought-provoking, and his teaching has inspired thousands of musicians across the world. At the heart of all Peter’s work as conductor, teacher and consultant lies a passion and commitment to the study and practice of music to profit humanity.
Peter has conducted a number of the world’s leading ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and English Chamber Orchestra, and has assisted many of the world’s finest conductors, including Pierre Boulez, Sir Colin Davis, Lord Menuhin, Sir Roger Norrington and Klaus Tennstedt.
Peter’s reputation as a teacher and trainer is renowned; he is Professor of Conducting at the Royal College of Music in London, Leverhulme Professor of Conducting to the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and his courses in conducting have taken him across the world. In 2009 he is to be the Orchestral Trainer for the European Union Youth Orchestra and will travel to Japan to conduct the Toyota Junior Symphony Orchestra.
2008 saw his introduction to the world of television; as Series Consultant to the BBC2 series ‘Maestro’ he presided over the teaching of eight celebrity ‘students’. In 2009 Peter will begin his book on the psychology of leadership, using the relationship between conductor and orchestra as his vehicle. The public profile afforded by his media work will lead to further opportunities to exercise his ambition to promote ‘music for all’.
Andrew Gourlay – Assistant Conductor
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Andrew grew up in the Caribbean and Far East before finally settling in Kent. In June 2008 he conducted the London Symphony Orchestra in a public masterclass with Valery Gergiev. Other masterclass performances include those with Bernard Haitink and Marin Alsop. Generously supported by the H R Taylor Trust Award for Conducting, Andrew was a Postgraduate Scholar at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London. There, he prepared the RCM orchestras for conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Sir Roger Norrington, Andrew Litton and Alexander Polianichko. He has conducted the St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra whilst studying with Polianichko in Russia. Andrew conducted The Marriage of Figaro at the Britten Theatre in 2007 and was an Assistant Conductor for all operas of the Grange Park Opera 2008 season.
As a trombonist, Andrew has freelanced with orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonia, Hallé, London Sinfonietta and Opera North. He has toured South America and Europe as a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester under Claudio Abbado and Philippe Jordan.
Andrew has presented The Early Music Show on BBC Radio 3. He is the Principal Conductor of the Orpheus Sinfonia. He won a ‘Star Award’ from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust in 2005 and the Charles Leggett Award administered by the Musicians Benevolent Fund in 2006. Future plans include working as a Cover Conductor for Barry Wordsworth at the Royal Ballet.
John Crawford - Leader
John Crawford received his early training in Sheffield. At the age of 13, he became a member of the National Youth Orchestra, which led to lessons at the Royal Academy of Music in London. During this time, he won the Gold Medal of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and gained a scholarship to the Royal College of Music. John continued his studies abroad in Vienna and Sienna before joining the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He now enjoys a varied career, leading the Forest Philharmonic and Ernest Read orchestras, teaching at Trinity College of Music and at the Purcell School, and making frequent visits to Finland as both a player and teacher.