Patron: Colin Horsley OBE

Leader: William Pickering

Conductor: Maurice Powell

Colin Horsley OBE - Patron

Colin Horsley OBE has enjoyed a long distinguished international solo career, during which he has toured extensively throughout Europe, the Far East, Australia, the USA and his native New Zealand. He has appeared with all the major British orchestras and with many of the most eminent conductors including Sir Malcolm Sargent, Sir Thomas Beecham and Sir Adrian Boult. He made regular appearances at the 'Proms' for over 25 years and has performed in many prestigious concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican to name just a few. He was appointed Professor and Fellow of the Royal College of Music, and has taught at the Royal Northern College of Music. Colin lives in Maughold, not far from the cottage where his grandfather was born.

 

Maurice Powell - Conductor

Maurice studied the French horn at Guildhall with Francis Bradley, and became principal horn of the Royal Ballet Orchestra. After some years playing and teaching in London, he moved to Yorkshire and took up a post as Head of Music at a comprehensive school. He moved to the Isle of Man in 1997, played principal horn with the Manx Sinfonia and became a founder member of the Mill Ensemble. Maurice was appointed Musical Director of the Manx Sinfonia (now the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra) in 2004.

Apart from playing and conducting, Maurice's main interest is in the field of musical research, specialising in music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is a past President of the Internationale Louis Spohr Gesellschaft (sitz Kassel), a member of the editorial panel for the New Selected Edition of The Works of Spohr, a member of the Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum (Salzburg) and a long time contributor of articles and programme and CD notes. Indeed we have Maurice to thank for his contribution of such interesting programme notes at each concert the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra performs.