Martyn Brabbins
Encyclopedia
Martyn Brabbins is a British conductor
. He studied at Goldsmiths College
, London University, and later was a conducting student of Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatory.
Brabbins first came to international attention when he was awarded first prize at the Leeds Conductors Competition
in 1988. Between 1994 and 2005, Brabbins was Associate Principal Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
. He became principal conductor of Sinfonia 21 in 1994. He was artistic director
of the Cheltenham Music Festival
from 2005 to 2007. During his Cheltenham tenure, he established a new ensemble, the Festival Players. In Leeds
, he created a new chamber music series called "Music in Transition".
Brabbins also has supervised a training course for aspiring conductors at the St Magnus festival on Orkney since 2002. He became principal guest conductor of DeFilharmonie
(Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders) in 2009, and his current contract runs through 2013.
Brabbins has conducted commercial recordings of music by Julian Anderson
, Benjamin Britten
, Cyril Scott
, and Michael Tippett
. On two occasions he has conducted what he refers to as a "Beethovenathon" — a day-long program of performances of all nine of Beethoven
's symphonies (divided into a series of four concerts).
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He studied at Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
, London University, and later was a conducting student of Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatory.
Brabbins first came to international attention when he was awarded first prize at the Leeds Conductors Competition
Leeds Conductors Competition
The Leeds Conductors Competition, is a music competition for young British conductors in the city of Leeds.-History:The competition was founded by Michael Johnson of the Leeds City Council and David Lloyd-Jones, Founder Director of Opera North with the support of Sir Charles Groves. The competition...
in 1988. Between 1994 and 2005, Brabbins was Associate Principal Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation , it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland...
. He became principal conductor of Sinfonia 21 in 1994. He was artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of the Cheltenham Music Festival
Cheltenham Music Festival
The Cheltenham Music Festival is one of the oldest music festivals in Britain, held annually in Cheltenham in June/July since 1945. The festival is renowned for premieres of contemporary music, hosting over 250 music premieres as of July 2004....
from 2005 to 2007. During his Cheltenham tenure, he established a new ensemble, the Festival Players. In Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, he created a new chamber music series called "Music in Transition".
Brabbins also has supervised a training course for aspiring conductors at the St Magnus festival on Orkney since 2002. He became principal guest conductor of DeFilharmonie
DeFilharmonie
deFilharmonie is a Belgian symphony orchestra, with its principal home base in Antwerp. Founded by Gaston Ariën, Jef Maes, J.A...
(Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders) in 2009, and his current contract runs through 2013.
Brabbins has conducted commercial recordings of music by Julian Anderson
Julian Anderson
Julian Anderson is a British composer and teacher of composition.-Biography:Anderson studied at Westminster School, then with John Lambert at the Royal College of Music, with Alexander Goehr at Cambridge University, privately with Tristan Murail in Paris, and on courses given by Olivier Messiaen,...
, Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
, Cyril Scott
Cyril Scott
Cyril Meir Scott was an English composer, writer, and poet.-Biography:Scott was born in Oxton, England to a shipper and scholar of Greek and Hebrew, and Mary Scott , an amateur pianist. He showed a talent for music from an early age and was sent to the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, Germany to...
, and Michael Tippett
Michael Tippett
Sir Michael Kemp Tippett OM CH CBE was an English composer.In his long career he produced a large body of work, including five operas, three large-scale choral works, four symphonies, five string quartets, four piano sonatas, concertos and concertante works, song cycles and incidental music...
. On two occasions he has conducted what he refers to as a "Beethovenathon" — a day-long program of performances of all nine of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's symphonies (divided into a series of four concerts).