Conductors
Marion Wood - Artistic Director and Principal Conductor
Marion Wood was born in Sydney, Australia. She attended Croydon High School, the University of Keele and the Royal College of Music in London. She now lives in Belfast, and works in London, Exeter and around Ireland. Marion is currently Artistic Director of LISO, Artistic Director of The Romantic Symphony Orchestra and Music Theatre Belfast, Principal Guest Conductor with Tuba2Cuba and Sanctus Choir as well as Director of Music at The University of Exeter.
Whilst still at RCM, Marion spent some time as Assistant Chorusmaster to the London Philharmonic Choir, and directed a week's course with the Nottingham Youth Chamber Orchestra, with whom she worked for a further year as Principal Guest Conductor. On leaving College Marion was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of Keele Bach Choir and Orchestra. In 1996 she was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Keele Philharmonic Orchestra, and also taught conducting to students and orchestra members.
In 1997 she was appointed Chorusmaster of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir and has worked with many other groups. Highlights of her time as Director of the Keele Bach Choir (1995-9) included two collaborations with the period instrument ensemble Birmingham Conservatoire 'Cappelle', and a joint tour with Keele Philharmonic Orchestra and members of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir to the Czech Republic, including a performance in the Dvorak Hall of the Rudolfinum in Prague. Whilst with the Belfast Philharmonic Choir (1997-2004), Marion conducted both the choir and the Ulster Orchestra in the Waterfront Hall in April 2000.
In 2001 she directed the Ireland premiere performance of a reconstruction of Bach's St Mark Passion in the Ulster Hall, and in 2002 Rachmaninov’s Vespers. In November 2002 Marion conducted The Dream of Gerontius in the Belfast Festival, and in April 2003 members of the choir toured to Malta to work under Marion's direction with the Orchestra of Jeunesse Musicales Malta. In 2003 she directed a double bill of Carmina Burana and Belshazzar's Feast in the Belfast Festival.
Between 2000 and 2005 Marion worked as Orchestra Manager and Rehearsal Conductor with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. This role included all aspects of orchestral management from advising on rehearsal scheduling to conducting sectionals and early tutti rehearsals on Orchestral Courses. During this period she has assisted Andrey Boreyko, Eri Klas, Takuo Yuasa and Atso Almila. In 2002 this included assisting Alexander Annissimov in the preparation of the orchestra's complete concert performances of Wagner's Ring Cycle.
With LISO, Marion has given the British Premieres of Sean O Riada's Mise Eire and John Kinsella's Symphony No.3, as well as World Premieres of works by Solfa Carlile. In 2007, she has already conducted new works by Jonathan Lee, Solfa Carlile and Graeme Stewart.
Nick Newland - Director and Assistant Conductor
Marion Wood was born in Sydney, Australia. She attended Croydon High School, the University of Keele and the Royal College of Music in London. She now lives in Belfast, and works in London, Exeter and around Ireland. Marion is currently Artistic Director of LISO, Artistic Director of The Romantic Symphony Orchestra and Music Theatre Belfast, Principal Guest Conductor with Tuba2Cuba and Sanctus Choir as well as Director of Music at The University of Exeter.
Whilst still at RCM, Marion spent some time as Assistant Chorusmaster to the London Philharmonic Choir, and directed a week's course with the Nottingham Youth Chamber Orchestra, with whom she worked for a further year as Principal Guest Conductor. On leaving College Marion was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of Keele Bach Choir and Orchestra. In 1996 she was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Keele Philharmonic Orchestra, and also taught conducting to students and orchestra members.
In 1997 she was appointed Chorusmaster of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir and has worked with many other groups. Highlights of her time as Director of the Keele Bach Choir (1995-9) included two collaborations with the period instrument ensemble Birmingham Conservatoire 'Cappelle', and a joint tour with Keele Philharmonic Orchestra and members of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir to the Czech Republic, including a performance in the Dvorak Hall of the Rudolfinum in Prague. Whilst with the Belfast Philharmonic Choir (1997-2004), Marion conducted both the choir and the Ulster Orchestra in the Waterfront Hall in April 2000.
In 2001 she directed the Ireland premiere performance of a reconstruction of Bach's St Mark Passion in the Ulster Hall, and in 2002 Rachmaninov’s Vespers. In November 2002 Marion conducted The Dream of Gerontius in the Belfast Festival, and in April 2003 members of the choir toured to Malta to work under Marion's direction with the Orchestra of Jeunesse Musicales Malta. In 2003 she directed a double bill of Carmina Burana and Belshazzar's Feast in the Belfast Festival.
Between 2000 and 2005 Marion worked as Orchestra Manager and Rehearsal Conductor with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. This role included all aspects of orchestral management from advising on rehearsal scheduling to conducting sectionals and early tutti rehearsals on Orchestral Courses. During this period she has assisted Andrey Boreyko, Eri Klas, Takuo Yuasa and Atso Almila. In 2002 this included assisting Alexander Annissimov in the preparation of the orchestra's complete concert performances of Wagner's Ring Cycle.
With LISO, Marion has given the British Premieres of Sean O Riada's Mise Eire and John Kinsella's Symphony No.3, as well as World Premieres of works by Solfa Carlile. In 2007, she has already conducted new works by Jonathan Lee, Solfa Carlile and Graeme Stewart.
Nick Newland - Director and Assistant Conductor
Nick Newland founded the London Irish Symphony Orchestra with Artistic Director Marion Wood in 2005 to provide audiences with a taste of modern Irish culture. Born in London, Nick attended Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College in New Cross, London. After completing A-Levels in Music, History, English Literature and Government and Politics, Nick decided to take a year off before commencing study at Trinity College of Music in London. During this gap year, Nick spent three months in Cuba, working at the Centro Nacional de Escuelas des Artes in Habana. Whilst there, he met with representatives of the Cuban government and acted as vocal coach for Dutch choreographers Noortje Bijeovits and Feri de Geus on a collaborative project with the National Dance School of Cuba and the National Youth String Orchestra of the Netherlands - El Carmina del Agua.
Nick is Principal Conductor of Tuba2Cuba, an organisation he founded in 1999 to help young musicians in Cuba by sending musical instruments to their schools. Money is raised by holding large-scale concerts, often with as many as 300 performers! Tuba2Cuba has raised more than £100,000's worth of instruments and equipment for Cuban schools so far. If you would like more information, visit www.tuba2cuba.org.uk
With the London Irish Symphony Orchestra, Nick has conducted the World Premieres of Aisling and Lunlia - both by Composer in Residence Solfa Carlile, as well as continuing to focus on the works of Mozart to highlight the talents of young Irish soloists. For more information, visit www.solfacarlile.com
Nick is Principal Conductor of Tuba2Cuba, an organisation he founded in 1999 to help young musicians in Cuba by sending musical instruments to their schools. Money is raised by holding large-scale concerts, often with as many as 300 performers! Tuba2Cuba has raised more than £100,000's worth of instruments and equipment for Cuban schools so far. If you would like more information, visit www.tuba2cuba.org.uk
With the London Irish Symphony Orchestra, Nick has conducted the World Premieres of Aisling and Lunlia - both by Composer in Residence Solfa Carlile, as well as continuing to focus on the works of Mozart to highlight the talents of young Irish soloists. For more information, visit www.solfacarlile.com