Orchestra of Square Chapel is the resident orchestra at Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax. Conducted by their ambitious young conductor, Robert Guy, the orchestra pride themselves on delivering interesting programmes for chamber orchestra.
In 1998 the orchestra moved into Square Chapel which provides an intimate concert hall with one of the best acoustics in the area. The orchestra presents four concerts in a season, which usually begins in October and ends in June. A popular date in the orchestra's schedule is the New Year Concert which is always a sell-out.
The orchestra has had an eventful history and is proud to have several World Premieres to its name. As well as performances as part of the Halifax Festival the orchestra has also been heard on BBC Radio 3 as part of the Listen Up Festival of British and Contemporary Composers.
Orchestra of Square Chapel is committed to supporting local talent and regularly works with gifted soloists from the area. In previous seasons we have featured Will Green (piano), Martyn Jackson (violin), Rachel Spencer (violin), and Sarah Killian (soprano).
We strive the meet the highest standards of playing and our members are a combination of professional, semi-professional and gifted amateur players. The Orchestra welcomes local musicians who are ambitious and can perform to a high standard. In particular, we are currently inviting string players to join us. Generally there are three half-day rehearsals, the third one being followed by an evening concert which allows our memebers to fit the orchestra around their other committments. If you are interested in joining our orchestra please email Nick Barber, our Orchestral Manager.
Robert Guy is Artistic Director of the award winning NEW Sinfonia and Tutor in Conducting at the University of Huddersfield. The NEW Sinfonia have been appointed as Orchestra in Residence at the ‘North Wales International Music Festival’ 2016. As part of this residency Robert will conduct the World Premiere of Paul Mealor’s Symphony No.2 and work with renowned violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen.
This year, Robert was invited to be Conductor in Residence at the ‘Inspire Arts Festival’ held in Jeju, South Korea. He was also invited to conduct the Manchester Camerata as part of the ‘International Conducting Masterclass’ at the RNCM and chosen to work with the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber Choir in Lübeck, working with Simon Halsey and Nicholas Fink. Last year, he conducted the Scottish Chamber Orchestra as part of the ‘St Magnus International Festival’, working with Sian Edwards and Charles Peebles.
Other notable career highlights include conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker Ensemble at the ‘Conductors Lab 2014’ in Aix-en-Provence and making his debut at St David’s Hall Cardiff in 2013, working with trumpet virtuoso Allen Vizzutti in the gala concert of the ‘Arcomis International Brass Festival’. Robert was also invited to conduct at the ‘International Masterclasses Berlin’ where he worked with Michail Jurowski and the Berlin Sinfonietta. In 2009 he acted as Assistant Conductor to the Britten Pears Orchestra with Kirill Karabits.
Robert is a passionate leader and active educator. He is Principal Conductor to the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestra of Square Chapel in Halifax. As a leading Choral Conductor he directed the Huddersfield Choral Society in a concert performance of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and is Musical Director of Cantorion Rhos Mixed Choir. He is high demand as an orchestra/choral conductor through his educational work with Trafford Music Service.
He holds the MMus and FRSM qualifications having studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester.
To find out more about our talented young conductor please visit his website.
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