Edward Gardner (conductor)
Encyclopedia
Edward Gardner is a British conductor.
Gardner sang as a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral
. As a youth, he played piano, clarinet and organ. He attended the King's School, Gloucester and Eton College
. At the University of Cambridge
, he continued as a music student, and was a choral scholar in King's College Choir. He had begun choral conducting at Eton, and continued conducting at Cambridge. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Music
, where his teachers included Colin Metters. He graduated from the RAM in 2000.
From 1997 until 2002, Gardner was Musical Director of Wokingham Choral Society, a post previously held by Graeme Jenkins
, Paul Daniel
, and Stephen Layton
. In 1999, whilst still a student at the Royal Academy of Music
, Gardner became a repetiteur at the Salzburg Festival
at the invitation of Michael Gielen
, when another repetiteur had become ill. Gardner subsequently served as an assistant conductor to Mark Elder at The Hallé
Orchestra for 3 years. In 2003, Gardner was named music director of Glyndebourne on Tour
and formally took up the post in 2004. He relinquished this post in 2007.
In 2005, Gardner was a winner of the Young Artist prize of the Royal Philharmonic Society
(RPS). In March 2006, he was appointed music director of English National Opera
. He formally took up the post in May 2007, with an initial contract of 3 years. Although there have not been any formal press announcements of Gardner extending his ENO contract, he has publicly stated that he is continuing to plan work with ENO through at least 2015.
In 2008, the RPS named Gardner its Conductor of the Year. In September 2010, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
announced the appointment of Gardner as its next principal guest conductor, effective September 2011, with an initial contract of 3 years, for 3–4 weeks of concerts per season.
Gardner has conducted several recordings for EMI Classics, including collaborations with Alison Balsom
and Kate Royal
. He has also signed a recording contract with Chandos Records, which has included recordings of music by Witold Lutosławski and Benjamin Britten
. Gardner is the father of a son, Charlie, born in March 2010, from his past relationship with Balsom.
Gardner sang as a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
. As a youth, he played piano, clarinet and organ. He attended the King's School, Gloucester and Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. At the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, he continued as a music student, and was a choral scholar in King's College Choir. He had begun choral conducting at Eton, and continued conducting at Cambridge. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, where his teachers included Colin Metters. He graduated from the RAM in 2000.
From 1997 until 2002, Gardner was Musical Director of Wokingham Choral Society, a post previously held by Graeme Jenkins
Graeme Jenkins
Graeme James Ewers Jenkins is a British conductor, specializing in opera. He read music at the University of Cambridge, and later studied conducting at the Royal College of Music. He worked with Norman Del Mar and Sir David Willcocks, and as an Adrian Boult Conducting Scholar, Jenkins conducted...
, Paul Daniel
Paul Daniel
Paul Daniel CBE is an English conductor. He is particularly noted for performances and recordings of opera and of British music....
, and Stephen Layton
Stephen Layton
Stephen Layton is an English conductor.Layton was raised in Derby, where his father was a church organist. Layton learned the piano as a youth. He was a chorister at Winchester Cathedral, and subsequently won scholarships to Eton College and then King's College, Cambridge as an organ...
. In 1999, whilst still a student at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, Gardner became a repetiteur at the Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
The Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
at the invitation of Michael Gielen
Michael Gielen
-Professional career:Gielen was born in Dresden, Germany, to opera director Josef Gielen. Through his mother, Rose, he is the nephew of Eduard Steuermann and Salka Steuermann Viertel. He began his career as a pianist in Buenos Aires, where he studied with Erwin Leuchter and gave an early...
, when another repetiteur had become ill. Gardner subsequently served as an assistant conductor to Mark Elder at The Hallé
The Hallé
The Hallé is a symphony orchestra based in Manchester, England. It is the UK's oldest extant symphony orchestra , supports a choir, youth choir and a youth orchestra, and releases its recordings on its own record label, though it has occasionally released recordings on Angel Records and EMI...
Orchestra for 3 years. In 2003, Gardner was named music director of Glyndebourne on Tour
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an English opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.-History:...
and formally took up the post in 2004. He relinquished this post in 2007.
In 2005, Gardner was a winner of the Young Artist prize of the Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
(RPS). In March 2006, he was appointed music director of English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
. He formally took up the post in May 2007, with an initial contract of 3 years. Although there have not been any formal press announcements of Gardner extending his ENO contract, he has publicly stated that he is continuing to plan work with ENO through at least 2015.
In 2008, the RPS named Gardner its Conductor of the Year. In September 2010, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
announced the appointment of Gardner as its next principal guest conductor, effective September 2011, with an initial contract of 3 years, for 3–4 weeks of concerts per season.
Gardner has conducted several recordings for EMI Classics, including collaborations with Alison Balsom
Alison Balsom
Alison Louise Balsom is an English trumpet soloist.-Early life:Balsom was born in Hertfordshire. She attended the Tannery Drift Primary School, then the Greneway Middle School and the Meridian School, all in Royston, Hertfordshire...
and Kate Royal
Kate Royal
Kate Royal is an English lyric soprano. She is the daughter of Steve Royal, a singer and songwriter for television, and of Carolyn Royal, a former model and dancer....
. He has also signed a recording contract with Chandos Records, which has included recordings of music by Witold Lutosławski and Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
. Gardner is the father of a son, Charlie, born in March 2010, from his past relationship with Balsom.