Role

:

Conductor Performer

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Vocal

 

Stefan Asbury is a renowned conductor and music director who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene. Born in 1963 in London, England, Asbury grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from a young age. His father was a professional violinist, and his mother was a pianist and music teacher. Asbury began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the violin and trumpet. Asbury attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied conducting with Sir Colin Davis and George Hurst. He also studied composition with Simon Bainbridge and John Woolrich. After completing his studies, Asbury began his career as a conductor, working with various orchestras and ensembles in the UK and Europe. In 1993, Asbury was appointed as the music director of the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG), a position he held for ten years. During his tenure, he led the BCMG in numerous performances and recordings of contemporary classical music, including works by composers such as Oliver Knussen, Harrison Birtwistle, and Thomas Adès. Asbury's work with the BCMG earned him critical acclaim and established him as a leading figure in contemporary classical music. In addition to his work with the BCMG, Asbury has conducted many other orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Berlin Philharmonic. He has also worked with many leading soloists, including pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, violinist Leila Josefowicz, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Asbury's repertoire is diverse, ranging from contemporary classical music to the works of the classical masters. He has conducted many premieres of new works by contemporary composers, including Thomas Adès' "Asyla" and "Polaris," and George Benjamin's "Written on Skin." He has also conducted performances of works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahler, among others. Asbury has received many awards and honors for his work as a conductor. In 2003, he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Conductor Award, and in 2004, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. He has also been awarded the Ditson Conductor's Award and the Koussevitzky Conducting Prize. In addition to his work as a conductor, Asbury is also a respected teacher and mentor. He has taught conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Aspen Music Festival and School. He has also served as a mentor to young conductors through the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Dudamel Fellowship Program. Asbury's contributions to the world of classical music have been significant and far-reaching. His work as a conductor has helped to bring contemporary classical music to a wider audience, and his dedication to teaching and mentoring has helped to inspire the next generation of musicians and conductors. Asbury's legacy as a musician and conductor is sure to endure for many years to come.

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