WREXHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Garry Walker - Conductor

Born and educated in Edinburgh, Garry Walker took up the 'cello at the age of seven. He became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and in 1990 moved to St Mary's School, Edinburgh to continue his studies with Ruth Beauchamp. It was whilst studying at St Mary's that he had his first opportunities to conduct.

Garry was offered a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music but opted to take up a scholarship on the prestigious joint course at the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University. He graduated in 1995 with first class honours and now holds graduate and postgraduate diplomas from the RNCM as well as several prizes for chamber music and conducting. At University Garry conducted the Chamber Orchestra for two years and commissioned several new works from student composers.

The award of a Junior Fellowship in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1997 to study with Edward Warren and Timothy Reynish enabled him to conduct a wide repertoire from the baroque to contemporary, performing with many celebrated musicians. In November 1998 he conducted a highly acclaimed performance of Henze's opera Pollicino which opened the "Henze at the RNCM" Festival and conducted the RNCM Sinfonia at the Montepulciano Festival in Italy.

In May 1999 Garry Walker completed his Junior Fellowship in conducting gaining the first distinction ever awarded by the RNCM for conducting. In July 1999 he won the Sixth Leeds Conductor's Competition.

October 1999 saw his London debut replacing at very short notice an indisposed Daniele Gatti in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's opening concert of their season at the Barbican and in January 2000 he took part in a very successful masterclass with Pierre Boulez and the London Symphony Orchestra. As a result of this he was invited to work as an assistant to Pierre Boulez at the Aix en Provence Festival in the summer of 2000.

Recent highlights have included concerts with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the BBC Philharmonic, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, the Hallé Orchestra, Paragon Ensemble, Ensemble 10:10, Bochum Symphony Orchestra, the English Northern Philharmonia and in January 2001 he conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. In 2000 Garry Walker assisted Steven Sloane on a tour of Europe with the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and returned to the orchestra in his own right in January 2001 to conduct a series of successful concerts in Germany.

Other future engagements include concerts with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Last year Garry Walker took up the post of Associate Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and has recently become Music Director of the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra.

December 2001

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