Our conductor is Geoffrey Keating (M.A.(Oxon), A.R.C.M.).
He read music at Oxford and after 17 years as Director of Music at Millfield School, Somerset he took early retiral to concentrate on his various passions - music, photography, sailing and fishing. He is a lecturer with Glasgow University Adult Education and is resident tutor at Rothay Manor Music Holidays in Ambleside. The next course is planned for March 1st - 6th 2009 and is entitled "1809 : an end and a beginning (Haydn & Mendelssohn)".
Geoff has an immense wealth of knowledge about music and his rehearsals are a joy - in many ways a masterclass in orchestral music. He encourages us to listen to the music with fresh ears and to understand various subtleties which most of us never imagined existed in the composers' minds. We are extremely fortunate to have such an experienced and enthusiastic musician to lead us. Without his help the orchestra would be a shadow of what it is at present and we would not be able to attract the high quality players from the further corners of Cumbria and elsewhere. He has invaluable contacts in the world of music and has attracted artists such as Andrew Taylor (cello), Murray McLachlan (piano) and Leland Chen (violin) to perform concertos with us. Of equal importance is the support we enjoy from his wife Helen. She is our librarian and also produces the programme notes for our concerts, etc., etc.!
