User:Stevenrgonzalez/Steven Gonzalez Conductor

Studying under Andrew Mogrelia, Steven Gonzalez was the first student to be awarded an MA in Conducting from the Birmingham Conservatoire, in fact, this course was written for him, on merit of his audition to conduct one of the student lead orchestras at the Conservatoire. Whilst at Birmingham Conservatoire, Steven had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Sir Simon Rattle, on a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, as well as with the composer Steve Reich, on a performance of Four Sections for orchestra, in which he played solo percussion.

During this time, Steven became conductor of the Thallein Ensemble, a group specialising in contemporary music. As conductor of this ensemble, Steven commissioned several works for them. He also became deputy to his mentor and the Conservatoire's Resident Conductor, Andrew Mogrelia. In his final year at the Conservatoire, Steven was appointed associate conductor of the Junior Department where he was responsible for the department's Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra. Under his leadership, the Symphony Orchestra won 'high commendation' at the Festival of Youth at the Royal Festival Hall in 1995.

Steven won many awards whilst at the Conservatoire; The Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, The Salvesen Baton and the Principal's Prize, an award given to the one student deemed to have made the greatest contribution to the life of the Conservatoire over the academic year. Steven was also the first recipient of the Michael Beech Conducting award.

Having been an undergraduate first study percussionist, Steven was appointed Director of Percussion at Birmingham Junior Conservatoire, where he directed the Birmingham Young Percussionists Scheme. The scheme was initiated by the Birmingham Music Service which led to the creation of Birmingham Schools Percussion Ensemble, of which Steven was director. As director of this ensemble, Steven commissioned many new works including Rain Dance by Alex Heffes.

On completing the MA, Steven was employed by Birmingham Conservatoire as a visiting lecturer of Conducting to undergraduate students. He also appeared as a frequent guest conductor, directing ensembles such as the Avison Chamber Orchestra, with whom he toured France conducting the première performance of Concerto for Two Pianos by Andrew Downes. This tour lead to Steven being invited back to Paris as an adjudicator for the Franco- Italien piano Competition.

As well as being Principal Conductor of the Exeter University Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta, Steven was guest conductor of the Sinfonia of Birmingham. These positions included numerous concerts throughout the world and a highly acclaimed residential course. As guest conductor of the BT Scottish Ensemble, Steven conducted the première of It's a Beautiful Night From Here to the Trembling Stars by Keith Johnson. This performance was one of the first live webcasts to be broadcast on the worldwide web.

In 2001 Steven was invited by Christopher Adey to become Resident Conductor of the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, where he performed throughout the Middle East. He held this position for two years before becoming the youngest ever Principal Conductor of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. As Principal Conductor of the CSO, Steven gave several performances worldwide and was hailed the 'finest of all Cairo's Principal Conductors to date'. In 2006 and 2008, whilst in his role as Principal Conductor of the CSO, Steven assisted Daniel Barenboim in relation to his work with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Egypt. Steven has collaborated with Sir Malcolm Arnold on several projects which included presenting a seminar of the composer’s music, conducting a performance of the Concerto for Oboe with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, and, in 2000 giving a rare performance, in the presence of the composer, of his First Symphony with the Worcestershire Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2007 Steven assisted the British Conductor Vernon Handley during his tenure as Chief Conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra.

Upon his return to the UK, Steven has been in great demand as both a freelance conductor and teacher. More recently he has dedicated much of his time to teaching and giving masterclasses in conducting. He was appointed faculty member of the prestigious Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire where he recently founded the School of Conducting. In its brief history, under the direction of Steven, the School has produced two extraordinary graduates, one of whom has gone on to study Conducting in Vienna, the other in Glasgow.

Steven has conducted several recordings to include; Headhunter by Richard Jacques, and, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Xenosaga by Yasunori Matsuda.