John Wilson (conductor)
Encyclopedia
John Wilson is a British conductor, arranger and musicologist and specialises in music for the small and big screens, as well as Big Band
jazz and light music
. He is renowned as the creator of the John Wilson Orchestra
.
Born in Tyneside
, Newcastle
, he attended Breckenbeds Junior High School
in Low Fell
, then Heathfield Senior High School
. Other pupils of this school included footballers Steve Stone
and Paul Gascoigne
along with Tracey Whitwell (actress). In the late 1980s he studied music at A level at Newcastle College, where he conducted a variety of ensembles including a 96 piece orchestra and choir for a concert version of West Side Story. John wrote and directed his own pantomime during this period and he also conducted for many local amateur dramatic societies. Later he studied composition and conducting at the Royal College of Music
, and during this time won the Tagore Gold Medal for outstanding academic excellence.
's incidental music for a BBC
production of Gormenghast. This scoring won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Score. Wilson orchestrated and conducted Howard Goodall
's score for the 2002 BBC film The Gathering Storm
about the life of Winston Churchill.
Wilson's interest in historical film scores has led to his restoring a number of classic film scores and he is currently reconstructing the orchestrations of all the major MGM musicals, especially those by Conrad Salinger
. In 2004 Wilson was appointed the music director for the Hollywood feature film Beyond the Sea
, a biopic of the life of Bobby Darin
starring Kevin Spacey
. In 2007 he conducted a BBC Proms concert of British film music, followed in 2009 by a celebration of MGM Musicals, and made a further appearance in the 2010 Proms celebrating Rodgers and Hammerstein.. He made a further Proms appearance in the 2011 season, entitled "Hooray for Hollywood", featuring his orchestra with the Maida Vale Singers and soloists.
He was recently appointed a patron of The British Art Music Series along with James MacMillan and Libby Purves
.
Wilson made his operatic debut conducting a series of performances of Ruddigore
for Opera North
in early 2010.
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
jazz and light music
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
. He is renowned as the creator of the John Wilson Orchestra
John Wilson Orchestra
The John Wilson Orchestra was formed by British orchestral conductor John Wilson in 1994. A lush symphonic orchestra built around a jazz big band, it is renowned for resurrecting the original arrangements, which John Wilson himself has re-created, of MGM musicals and the works of Rodgers and...
.
Education
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear,Born in Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
, Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, he attended Breckenbeds Junior High School
Breckenbeds Junior High School
Breckenbeds Junior High School was a school in Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. It closed in September 1996.-Notable Alumni:*Paul Gascoigne *John Wilson...
in Low Fell
Low Fell
Low Fell is a fell in the English Lake District. It overlooks the lake of Loweswater to the south and to the north is bordered by its neighbour Fellbarrow. It is usually climbed from the villages of Loweswater or Thackthwaite. The fell is largely occupied by grassed enclosures, although there are...
, then Heathfield Senior High School
Heathfield Senior High School
Heathfield Senior High School was a secondary school in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. It closed in September 1996.-Notable pupils:*Paul Gascoigne *Steve Stone *John Wilson *Tracey Whitwell...
. Other pupils of this school included footballers Steve Stone
Steve Stone (footballer)
Steven Brian "Steve" Stone is an English former footballer and now part of the coaching staff at Newcastle United.-Club career:...
and Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal...
along with Tracey Whitwell (actress). In the late 1980s he studied music at A level at Newcastle College, where he conducted a variety of ensembles including a 96 piece orchestra and choir for a concert version of West Side Story. John wrote and directed his own pantomime during this period and he also conducted for many local amateur dramatic societies. Later he studied composition and conducting at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, and during this time won the Tagore Gold Medal for outstanding academic excellence.
Career
In addition to conducting a number of British-based orchestras, Wilson is also an arranger and orchestrator and has produced a number of orchestrations for film, radio and television. In 2000 he orchestrated Sir Richard Rodney BennettRichard Rodney Bennett
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, CBE is an English composer renowned for his film scores and his jazz performance as much as for his challenging concert works...
's incidental music for a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
production of Gormenghast. This scoring won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Score. Wilson orchestrated and conducted Howard Goodall
Howard Goodall
210px|thumb|Howard Goodall at St. John the Baptist Church in Devon, United Kingdom, May 2009Howard Lindsay Goodall CBE is a British composer of musicals, choral music and music for television...
's score for the 2002 BBC film The Gathering Storm
The Gathering Storm (2002 film)
The Gathering Storm is a BBC–HBO co-produced television biographical film about Winston Churchill in the years just prior to World War II...
about the life of Winston Churchill.
Wilson's interest in historical film scores has led to his restoring a number of classic film scores and he is currently reconstructing the orchestrations of all the major MGM musicals, especially those by Conrad Salinger
Conrad Salinger
Conrad Salinger was an American arranger, orchestrator and composer, who studied classical composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He is credited with orchestrating nine productions on Broadway from 1931 to 1938, and over seventy-five motion pictures from 1931 to 1962...
. In 2004 Wilson was appointed the music director for the Hollywood feature film Beyond the Sea
Beyond the Sea (film)
Beyond the Sea is a 2004 biographical film based on the life of singer/actor Bobby Darin. Kevin Spacey, who stars in the lead role and used his own singing voice for the musical numbers, co-wrote, directed, and co-produced the film, which takes its title from the Darin song of the same name...
, a biopic of the life of Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
starring Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
. In 2007 he conducted a BBC Proms concert of British film music, followed in 2009 by a celebration of MGM Musicals, and made a further appearance in the 2010 Proms celebrating Rodgers and Hammerstein.. He made a further Proms appearance in the 2011 season, entitled "Hooray for Hollywood", featuring his orchestra with the Maida Vale Singers and soloists.
He was recently appointed a patron of The British Art Music Series along with James MacMillan and Libby Purves
Libby Purves
Libby Purves OBE is a British radio presenter, journalist and author. A diplomat's daughter, she was educated at convent schools in Israel, Bangkok, South Africa and France, and then Beechwood Sacred Heart School in Tunbridge Wells.Purves won a scholarship to St Anne's College, Oxford, where she...
.
Wilson made his operatic debut conducting a series of performances of Ruddigore
Ruddigore
Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse, originally called Ruddygore, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written together by Gilbert and Sullivan...
for Opera North
Opera North
Opera North is an English opera company based in Leeds. The company's home theatre is the Leeds Grand Theatre, but it also presents regular seasons in several other cities, at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, the Lowry Centre, Salford Quays and the Theatre Royal, Newcastle...
in early 2010.
External links
- Tom Croxton Management, Wilson's agent.