Musicians of Carlisle City Orchestra will be led by a female conductor for only the second time in 70 years.
Hong Kong born Peggy Wu has joined the orchestra for the forthcoming season.
Peggy is currently studying the master of music in conducting programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has already been acknowledged as a hugely insightful musician.
She is also known for her dynamic presence on the podium, a quality that the orchestra’s members are enjoying during rehearsal time.
She has worked with major orchestras in Europe including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Red Note Ensemble, Berlin Sinfonietta and Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Peggy was chief conductor of the St Bartholomew’s Chamber Orchestra from 2019 to 2022 and, most notably, led it in a semi-staged production of Cosí Fan Tutte as both conductor and producer.
She says: “I’ve been made to feel very welcome by the musicians in Carlisle and we’re enjoying getting to know each other during rehearsals. We’ve made good progress already in getting to grips with the programme for the November concert and I’m really looking forward to our performance.”
Prior to joining the RCS, Peggy studied piano at the Royal College of Music in London. As a pianist, she has won numerous prizes, including second and audience prize at the Birmingham International Piano Competition and second prize (first prize not awarded) at the Windsor International Piano Competition. She was also a finalist at the New York International Piano Competition.
She is preparing the orchestra for its next concert on Saturday, November 25 in St John’s Church, London Road, Carlisle. The programme includes Von Suppé’s Poet and Peasant Overture, Bruch’s Second Violin Concerto and Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony The New World.
