ÿþ<html> <head> <title>The Mid-Somerset Orchestra</title> <link rel="STYLESHEET" type="text/css" href="ss1.css" /> </head> <body> <img src="space.gif" width="150" /></br> <a href="index.html"><img src="mso_logo.gif" width="150" /></br> <img src="space.gif" width="150" /></br> <a href="home_page.html"> <img src="home_page.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="this_season.html"> <img src="this_season.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="next_programme.html"> <img src="next_programme.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="loyalty.html"> <img src="loyalty.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="review.html"> <img src="review.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="venues.html"> <img src="venues.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="biographies.html"> <img src="biographies.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="photos.html"> <img src="photos.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="trivia.html"> <img src="trivia.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="repertoire.html"> <img src="repertoire.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="mailto:dldixon@lineone.net"> <img src="contact_us.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="links.html"> <img src="links.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <p></p> <span style="position: absolute; left: 250px; top: 50px"> <div align="center"><h1>Biographies</h1></div></br> <a name="SS"></a><a href=photos.html#"SS"><h2>STEPHEN SMITH</h2></a> The Mid-Somerset Orchestra is very pleased to welcome Stephen Smith as their Principal Conductor and Artistic Director. Stephen retired as Principal Director of Music of the British Army in 2009.</br> Stephen Smith joined the Army as an oboist in 1969 and studied at Kneller Hall, during which time he was the school s principal oboist. He returned there in 1977 to take the Bandmaster degree course, graduating in 1980 with seven prizes, including the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal for the best student bandmaster of the year. He served seven years as Bandmaster with the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, in West Germany, Northern Ireland, Berlin and UK. During this period, he was faced with the challenge of forming a new band during a rationalization of the Army s musical resources. In 1987 he was appointed Staff Director of Music at the Directorate of Infantry, with responsibility for recruiting for 22 of the Infantry s bands. Notable highlights were a period of duty in Swaziland, to train the country s Army Band, and a tour in Turkey in charge of the composite band representing the UK in commemoration of the Gallipoli Landings.</br> In 1992, he was appointed Director of Music of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps Staff Band, but reorganisation once again obliged him to form a new band, and he was appointed as the first Director of Music of the new Logistics Corps. The next four years included a number of high profile musical engagements, most notably tours to Hong Kong and Australia.</br> In 1998 he returned to Kneller Hall, joining the Directorate of Army Music, where he had overall responsibility for the design and validation of musical training. After two years, he became Director of Music of the Royal Artillery Band, one of the Army s premier State bands. As principal conductor of the oldest established orchestra in the country, he directed it in public concerts and State events, including at Buckingham Palace. He was honoured to be on parade for the State Funeral of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.</br> Whilst performing as the Musical Director of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2003, Stephen was appointed Chief Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music, responsible for all musical education and training. After two years in this highly rewarding post, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and appointed to the most senior musical post in the Army, that of Principal Director of Music. As the Army s top musician, he conducted many prestigious and challenging engagements, including concerts, recordings and radio broadcasts. During this time he formed the Army s orchestra and conducted it in concerts in London and across Southern England. In 2008 he gained an M.A. degree (with distinction) in conducting from Salford University, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music by Kingston University.</br> Stephen is now a freelance conductor and will be combining his work with MSO with being the conductor of Corsley Festival Choir. </br> <br> <a name="BB"></a><a href=photos.html#"BB"><h2>BENJAMIN BIRTLE</h2></a> Born in 1980, Ben began cello lessons at the age of 8 with Alexander Kok. At the age of 11 Ben attended Chetham's School of Music and was taught by Peter Dixon and Kim Bak Dinitzen. In his final year (1999) he won the school concerto auditions and was given the opportunity to perform the Walton cello concerto with the school orchestra on a tour around the UK, including a performance at the Walton festival in the presence of Lady Walton. It followed with a repeat performance at the Bridgwater Hall with the Halle orchestra. </br> In 1999 he won a scholarship to attend the Royal Northern College of Music. In 2001 he won the 1st prize in the Bromsgrove International Young Musician's Platform. Other competition successes include first prizes at the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year, Chandos Competition and the Rosemary Bursary Trust.</br> Other concerto performances have included the Dvorak cello concerto with the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra as part of the Cirencester Festival conducted by David Curtis and Haydn D major cello concerto with the Gloucester Youth Orchestra conducted by Charles Peebles.</br> Ben has also performed in recitals in the Cheltenham Festival, Singapore, Canada, Italy, Switzerland and most recently a tour in America with double bassist Matt Baker. In April, September and October 2011 he will be an artist in residence at the Two Moors Festival. In April, Ben will also be travelling to Valencia to make his debut CD.</br> Ben has benefited from several masterclasses with eminent cellists such as Ralph Kirshbaum, Steven Doane, Aldo Parisot, Paul Katz, Raphael Wallfisch, Harvey Shapiro, David Strange and Desmond Hoebig.</br> Ben has been a freelance cellist with orchestras such as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. During 2007 he was No. 3 cellist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.</br> Ben plays on a Milanese cello by Giovanni Grancino dating from 1690.</br> </br></br> <a name="AP"></a><a href=photos.html#"AP"><h2>ANTONY PEEBLES</h2></a> Antony Peebles studied at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, from which he was awarded a MusB degree. After leaving university, Peebles studied the piano with various tutors including Peter Katin, Yvonne Lefébure and Jeremy Siepmann. He received a number of scholarships during this time. </br> Peebles' big break came in 1971, when he was awarded the BBC Piano Competition. He played Gaspard de la nuit by Maurice Ravel, receiving universal acclaim from the jury, including renowned pianist Vlado Perlemuter, who commented that he'd never heard the piece interpreted better. Peebles also won the French Claude Debussy competition in 1972. </br> Following these successes, Peebles became a regular concert pianist, both as a performer of concertos with major orchestras in the United Kingdom and, famously, by touring the world playing the piano - sometimes alone, and sometimes with violinist John Georgiadis, with whom he formed the Georgiadis/Peebles Duo. Peebles has now performed in 131 countries. Peebles has recorded five CDs of piano music, all with Meridian Records.</br> </br></br> <h2>HYWEL JENKINS</h2> HYWEL JENKINS started the violin aged 11 at Elmhurst Grammar School in Street. He joined the MSO on his return from University in 1975 and in 2010 celebrated 30 years as Leader, having led every concert since 1980 except for three which he conducted. He has also performed as soloist with the orchestra a number of times. He has taught for 24 years with Somerset Music, since 2000 as String Consultant, but leaves this summer in order to take over the Glastonbury Music Shop. He will continue to tutor with the County Youth Orchestra and to direct ensembles at COSMiC, the Saturday Morning Music Club in Street. His violin is a copy of the  Betts Strad, made for him in 1994 by his first-ever violin pupil, Caroline Crowley-Roth of Bowlish, Shepton Mallet.<br><br> </div> </span> </body> </html>