CONDUCTOR

 

Stephen has been Stirling Orchestra's resident conductor since 2005.  He grew up on the Isle of Mull and was introduced to orchestral music by Radio 3 and an inspirational teacher called Kenneth Way. He later joined the Music School of Douglas Academy in Milngavie and was lucky enough to conduct the whole school in a composition of his own, aged 17. University studies at Glasgow and then Oxford seemed to allow plenty of time for more conducting and some teaching too – including several years work for Community Education Strathclyde at the wonderful East Glasgow Music School. During this time, conducting became a special passion. Through Glasgow University Wind Band he realised that he wanted as many people as possible to play, enjoy and care about music. Later, a two-year stint as conductor of the talented players of Oxford University Sinfonietta helped develop his conducting skills further.

In a parallel life, Stephen is Head of Research at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, with research interests in music history and education. He is especially proud of being one of the authors of What’s Going On?, the report that started the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative.