Harry Bicket - Conductor
Growing up in Liverpool, Harry drove his artist mother mad playing The Beatles and took to the piano, but thought of it as more of a hobby than anything else. However, the world had other plans, and with an academic scholarship to Radley College, Harry began playing the chapel organ, and met a teacher who, through his work and his introductions, would change the course of his career. Harry went from the Royal College of Music to organ scholar at St George's Chapel, Windsor and to Christ Church College, Oxford where he was also an organ scholar, and to on to Westminster Abbey. However, the lonely nature of the job forced him to re-think his options, and on the brink of quitting music for business, his neighbour introduced him to Mark Elder, Music Director of English National Opera at the time. Having barely seen an opera, or indeed heard of a repetiteur, after some impressive sight-reading Harry was on the music staff, where he arrived on his first day only to be shouted at by Charles Mackerras for fumbling the offstage banda in The Makropulos Case. Harry shares his journey from his early years through to his successful international career, including his work as the Artistic Director of the English Concert and as Music Director of Santa Fe Opera. Read more about Harry on his agent's website here Read more about The English Concert and their recent Rodelinda recording here Read about Santa Fe Opera here