Conducting, Lecturing, Teaching

Conducting

From my days as an undergraduate I felt that it was necessary to supplement composing with other musical activities which would, in different ways, feed the creative impulse. I have been aware that conducting can be a very valuable tool for composers but only if I underwent an intensive amount of studying in its art.

My early years were spent under the expert guidance of Robin Page who must have had a tough task as I am naturally badly co-ordinated and clumsy so much so that for one lesson was devoted to transferring oranges from one hand to the other. Later I took lessons from Vilem Tausky at the Guildhall who was always illuminating when approaching Dvorak and Janacek.

Working with Bernstein at the Schleswig Holstein Summer School in 1987 was of course a revelation, for he was one of the very few conductors I have ever watched who could literally transform the sound of an orchestra by standing on the podium. A Bernstein rehearsal seemed to me to unlock the real essence of the composer; the risk taking, the "living on the edge" were not egocentric mannerisms as is often maintained, but an ability to bring one closer than ever before to the humanity of the music.

The more strictly disciplined approach of George Hurst worked as a perfect counterbalance to Bernstein, and I will be forever grateful to George for championing my 1st Symphony in the late 80’s.

Having felt that there were so many significant figures whose work was continually undervalued or even ignored I felt a passionate urge for their music to be heard, not in concerts full of contemporary music for I have never been attracted to the ghetto approach but alongside the Classical masters. Amongst the composers whose work seems unjustly neglected are Robert Simpson, Vagn Holmboe and Malcolm Arnold.

I was most honoured when Robert Simpson decided to dedicate his last symphony (No.11) to me and was delighted to receive the dedication of David Matthews’s 11th Quartet, another composer whose work I greatly admire. Other composers whose work I am eager to promote include James Francis Brown, Alan Mills, John McCabe, Cy Lloyd and Toby Young.

Lecturing and Teaching

Much of my life is spent giving lectures on music. Since 1991 I have been giving series of music appreciation illustrated talks at the Blackheath Halls which is a splendid venue for listening to music as well as live performance. I also give regular lectures at Northwood and also at Sanderstead.

Whilst Adult Education has been central to my work as a musician I have always felt a strong desire to communicate my enthusiasm for the great composers to younger students. I have worked at the Junior Academy, Royal Academy of Music in various capacities for many years now and feel very privileged to have taught some of the finest young musicians now appearing in the profession.