Role

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Conductor

 

Charles Hazlewood is a British conductor and music director who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene. Born on November 14, 1966, in Winchester, England, Hazlewood grew up in a musical family. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a singer. Hazlewood started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and the guitar. Hazlewood attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied conducting. He also studied at the University of Cambridge, where he earned a degree in music. After completing his studies, Hazlewood began his career as a conductor, working with various orchestras and ensembles. One of Hazlewood's early successes was his work with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta. He was appointed the orchestra's principal conductor in 1995 and led the ensemble in a series of critically acclaimed performances. Hazlewood's innovative programming and dynamic conducting style helped to attract a new audience to classical music. In 2001, Hazlewood founded the contemporary music ensemble, Excellent Device. The group's repertoire included works by contemporary composers such as Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and John Adams. Hazlewood's work with Excellent Device earned him a reputation as a champion of contemporary music. Hazlewood's career took a major turn in 2006 when he was appointed the music director of the BBC Concert Orchestra. The orchestra is one of the UK's leading ensembles, and Hazlewood's appointment was seen as a significant coup. Hazlewood's tenure with the orchestra was marked by a series of innovative and ambitious projects. He led the ensemble in performances of works by contemporary composers such as John Cage and Terry Riley, as well as classical works by Beethoven and Mozart. One of Hazlewood's most significant achievements with the BBC Concert Orchestra was his work on the "Darwin Symphony." The piece was commissioned to mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species." Hazlewood worked with composer Richard Blackford to create a piece that explored the themes of evolution and natural selection. The piece was premiered at the Natural History Museum in London in 2009 and was later performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Hazlewood's work with the BBC Concert Orchestra earned him numerous accolades. In 2008, he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Conductor Award. The following year, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bristol. In addition to his work with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Hazlewood has also worked with other leading ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also conducted opera productions, including a critically acclaimed production of "The Magic Flute" at the Royal Opera House in London. Hazlewood is also known for his work as a presenter and broadcaster. He has presented several television programs on classical music, including "The Birth of British Music" and "Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto." He has also presented radio programs on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Hazlewood's work as a conductor and music director has helped to bring classical music to a wider audience. His innovative programming and dynamic conducting style have earned him a reputation as one of the UK's leading conductors.

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