The next concert by the City of Carlisle Orchestra takes place this weekend and features works reflecting a Scottish theme, with Mendelssohn’s Third Symphony and Amy Beach’s symphony, The Gaelic.
On Saturday, July 1, The orchestra will be conducted by Michael Riley, a young music director from London, who has nearly a decade of experience in the profession and is currently studying for a Masters degree in orchestral conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He already holds a BMus (Hons) degree in piano from Trinity College.
Michael joins the city’s orchestra through a partnership programme with the Conservatoire that facilitates masters students to conduct a large amateur orchestra as part of their course.
Prior to joining the course, Michael enjoyed a varied career as a music director, working predominantly in music theatre. He has conducted musicals in London’s West End, on national tours and internationally. Shows include Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock, Legally Blonde, The Bodyguard, The Sound of Music, Nativity! The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show and The Last Five Years, among others.
As a student, he has conducted the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged, Leipziger Symphonieorchester and The Prague Philharmonia amongst others, and has received additional coaching from leading conductors including Ryan Wigglesworth and Jonathon Heyward.
Michael said: “Joining an established orchestra can potentially be a bit daunting but I received a very warm welcome from the City of Carlisle, and we’ve been working closely together on these extensive and complex works over the past few weeks. Hopefully, the strong relationship we’ve now built will be evident in Saturday’s performance of these two exciting symphonies.”
The concert will be held in St John’s Church, London Road, Carlisle and begins at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 in advance from orchestra members, Bookcase in Castle Street and the Tourist Information Office in the Greenmarket, and £12 on the door. Entry for children and students is free.
