The Baton War: The Clock, the Heartbeat and Reflections on Conducting
September 2026
How can two recordings of the same symphony sound so completely different? The notes are the same. The musicians may be playing from exactly the same edition. The composer’s instructions have not changed. And yet one performance can feel like an unstoppable machine, driven relentlessly forward, while another seems to breathe, hesitate, expand and surge … Read more
From Falla to Ravi Shankar: A Deep Connection
August 2026
There are moments in a musical journey when the past suddenly feels present. During my extraordinary week at the Granada Festival, I experienced one of those moments—not only through the creation of El Sueño del Sitar, but through the opportunity to step inside the world of one of Spain’s greatest composers, Manuel de Falla. While … Read more
El Sueño del Sitar: Where Music, Dance and Tradition Meet at the Granada Festival
August 2026
There are performances where music is heard, and there are performances where music becomes a world of its own. At the 75th Festival de Granada, El Sueño del Sitar — The Dream of the Sitar — created precisely such a world. It brought together Indian classical music, the Western orchestral tradition, Flamenco and Bharatanatyam dance, … Read more
In the Footsteps of Sibelius
March 2026
There’s more to tracing the genesis of a masterpiece than simply studying the score; it requires standing in the light that first illuminated the composer’s mind. For any conductor, visiting the town of Rapallo on the Italian Riviera is a profound experience of the “Mediterranean light” that infuses Sibelius’s life-affirming 2nd Symphony. Earlier this month, as part of … Read more
We Need Music!
July 2025
Music is essential if humanity is to meet the existential challenges we face today. Why? Because it engages the whole brain – to survive as a species, we need music! In his seminal book The Master and His Emissary psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist explains how humanity needs to balance the left and right brain hemispheres in … Read more
A Symphony of Steps – Manchester Marathon 2025
May 2025
Welcome to the first post of a series exploring the bizarre, illuminating, and serendipitous events I’ve encountered in the last few years. In doing so, I hope the lessons learnt will be useful! This initial post is about running and music – specifically the challenge of marathon running and the Everest of Beethoven’s 9 Symphonies. … Read more
Back to the Future….
May 2025
Much has transpired in my personal and creative journey since 2020 and the onset of the Covid pandemic. I will gradually unpack these experiences here – but for now, let’s just say that I’m finally ready to embrace social media. As my friends know, I’ve always been averse to interacting in cyberspace. Given the … Read more
From Pandemic to War to Humanitarian Crisis – Responses in Music
March 2022
The sheer stupid insanity of which we as a species are capable is, quite literally, incredible. Recently a dear friend and colleague, the UK based violinist Enrico Alvares responded to this stupidity by masterminding a remarkable concert to raise money for the International Rescue Committee. The IRC provides vital Humanitarian aid to refugees throughout the … Read more
Music – helping young people cope with lockdown
June 2021
Exploring the role deep listening can play in the development of creativity in people of all ages, with a special focus on the young. My “Sonic Immersion” project took place from November 2020 – May 2021. The UK was in Coronavirus lockdown during much of this time and the project responded by giving young … Read more
What is the role of a Conductor in the midst of a Global Pandemic?
April 2021
Enabling collaboration and bringing people together however and whenever possible is the conductor’s true role. This has been a challenging year for all, but it has been so amazing to feel the power of live music on the few occasions it has been possible. It has been incredible to see how brave, creative and resourceful … Read more