Orchestral Performance - Royal Academy of Music, 2000

Conductor Mark Shanahan

Mark Shanahan was born in Manchester and studied at Chetham's School of Music. He took his Bachelor of Music degree at London University before joining the postgraduate conducting course at the Royal Academy of Music, London where he was awarded the Sir Henry Wood Scholarship and went on to win First Prize in the NAYO Conducting Competition in its inaugural year.

Mark began his association with English National Opera in 1991 where he conducted Jonathan Miller's production of The Mikado. He was then invited to conduct performances of Nicholas Hytner's new production of Verdi's The Force of Destiny and has since returned to conduct Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

Concert performances include regular engagements at the Royal Festival Hall where programmes have included Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust, Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, Mahler's Das Lied von Der Erde and Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben and Alpine Symphony. He frequently conducts for the RTE Broadcasting Corporation. Film credits include Lucia, based on Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Engagements this season have included a revival of The Barber Of Seville and performances of Verdi's Otello at ENO and tours to the Far East and Scandinavia. Future plans include a Verdi Gala Evening at the Royal Festival Hall, Puccini's La Bohème at ENO and a new production of Leoncavallo's La Bohème at ENO in the 2000/2001 season. Educational work includes conducting the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal Scottish Academy.

This is the second time that Mark has conducted NSSO. We thank him for his professionalism, direction and humour.