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Robert Guy hails from Wrexham and is a conductor and presenter who passionately believes in utilising the art's unique potential to communicate, connect and empower. Robert is an outstanding musician who is in high demand and has conducted more of the main classical and romantic repertoire than most of his generation across orchestras, chamber ensembles, choirs and opera. In May, Robert was invited to conduct the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra and Peter Donohoe at the Chopin Piano Festival held in Pristina, and in December 2022, he made his debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Robert is the recipient of the inaugural Hilary Tann Award for outstanding achievement in music in Wales 2023, awarded by the Welsh Music Guild.
Robert is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of NEW Sinfonia, a multi faceted arts organisation which boasts a professional chamber orchestra, community vocal ensemble NEW Voices and education programme NEW Academi, based in North Wales. NEW Sinfonia are orchestra in residence at the North Wales International Music Festival where Robert has conducted the National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain and the world première of a new opera by Paul Mealor called Gelert. Robert has worked with Welsh National Opera and leading soloists and composers including Rebecca Dale, Ye-Eun Choi, Tamsin Waley Cohen and Federico Colli. Robert has led education workshops which have been featured by the BBC. NEW Sinfonia are proud to partner with United to Assist Refugees UK, a Wrexham based, grassroots humanitarian movement dedicated to helping refugees and those fleeing war and persecution. In July 2023, Robert conducted NEW Sinfonia at Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod. Refugees from across North East Wales sang as part of a 200 strong choir in a spectacular concert which was a poignant reminder of music’s power to unite and transcend division.
Career
He has been involved in many prestigious concerts including being Assistant Conductor to Simon Halsey and the BBC Proms Youth Choir at the BBC Proms and making his debuts with the Orchestra of Opera North and Huddersfield Choral Society. He enjoys a close relationship with Manchester Camerata where he has performed with Tine Thing Helseth, conducted and presented concerts for Orchestra Live, recorded for Sony Playstation and performed for the Manchester International Festival. Robert is Principal Guest Conductor to Stockport Symphony Orchestra and guest conducts Immix Ensemble, a new music ensemble based in Liverpool.
Robert’s collaborative approach to building trust with musicians has been shaped by his early professional career as a viola player, where he notably played with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of Opera North and alongside the Allegri and Edinburgh String Quartets. He is now mentored by some of the greatest conductors of the modern era having been chosen for several prestigious programmes. These include being selected by Kirill Karabits to work with the Britten Pears Orchestra and by Jorma Panula as part of his Panula Academy in Finland working with the Turku Philharmonic. Internationally, Robert has been selected for prestigious masterclasses working with the Berlin Philharmonic in Aix-en-Provence, Neemi Järvi and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
listen and inspire
Memorial by Professor John Casken.
Recorded by the Cosmo Singers at the University of Manchester
Conducted by Robert Guy with soloists Katie Emmanuel and Alex Hopkins.
To see more of Robert's inspiring stories and projects please click the link below