Westmorland Orchestra has appointed Melvin Tay as music director and conductor.
Georgina Perkins, chair of the orchestra, said: “We are incredibly lucky to have Melvin on a permanent basis with us – he brings with him experience of conducting some of the best ensembles around the world as well as youthful energy, an eye and ear for detail and a passion for music making.”
Melvin was due to work as guest conductor with the orchestra in 2020 but was stopped because of the pandemic; he worked with the orchestra in the autumn but the Christmas concert was cancelled due to the snow.
He hopes that it will be third time lucky and that the March concert will be the first of many that he will conduct with Westmorland Orchestra.
He said: “It’s been fantastic being able to make music with the lovely people in the Westmorland Orchestra over the last couple of months. I am really excited to be appointed as music director and am looking forward to what the future holds, as we bring a variety of exciting performances to audiences in and around Kendal.”
Richard Howarth stepped down after 13 years as music director following the orchestra’s joint performance with Cumbria Festival Chorus of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony last March.
“We have taken nearly a year to appoint Richard’s successor, we had many top quality applicants – there is a lot of talent out there!” said Georgina.
Melvin regularly works with orchestras, opera societies, wind orchestras and brass bands. He has conducted the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet Sinfonia and more.
Last year he stepped in at the last minute to conduct the Lakeland Sinfonia and he has been invited back to conduct them again for their Beethoven concert on March 9.
Melvin will be conducting the Westmorland Orchestra at Kendal Leisure Centre on Saturday March 23. The programme features Angela Barnes as soloist in Strauss’s 2nd Horn Concerto, King Lear overture by Berlioz and Vaughan Williams’ London Symphony.
