Bjorn Bantock

Conductor

Bantock is the conductor and co-founder of the International String Orchestra Festival in Malta. In this unique festival a selection of top international professional musicians give master classes and workshops as well as leading the string orchestra. The principal players for April 2007 were Matthias Wollong (Leader of the European Union Chamber Orchestra), Yuko Inoue and Mats Lidström.

The only conductor invited to the 12th European Youth Bienniale 2005 in Naples, Bantock has an extensive performance schedule conducting numerous ensembles and orchestras. Bjorn is the principal conductor for the Europa Ensemble and also worked with the Watford Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hertfordshire Philharmonic Orchestra. He worked as a conductor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the RNCM, the London Contemporary Dance School and the Open Strings Festival in Denmark.  Bantock has also worked with London’s I’ Maestri, conducting concerts at St.Giles, the Barbican and Pond Square Highgate.

Bantock is principal conductor for the Oxford Cello School and the Alpine Cello Course in Geneva and worked as string coach for the Capriccio Youth Orchestra. Future invitations include the orchestra of the Royal Conservatoire of Music Copenhagen, the Marryat Players London, the Aberystwyth Music Festival, Orquestra do Notre Portugal and the Chamber Orchestra of South Africa. Whilst studying with Colin Metters (Head of conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London), he was invited to conduct in master classes with the Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Berlin and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.

For details of repertoire, please visit the repertoire list.

Bjorn has performed throughout the United Kingdom and Europe as well as in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa. He has been broadcast live for BBC Radio 3 and SABC Radio.

Bjorn has received numerous awards as Conductor and Cellist…

Sir John Barbirolli Competition (1st prize) - RNCM Contemporary Music Performance Prize - Full International ABRSM Scholarship - Shirley Cattarall Award - Oude Meester Music Prize (finalist) - Oude Meester Chamber Music Prize (1st prize) -Hans Endler Prize - SAMRO National bursary - Marjorie Hocken Bursary - Leonard Hall Memorial Prize - Anton Hartman Bursary - String Category Forte National Youth Music Competition (1st prize) -CAPAB Concerto Festival (1st prize)