British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
Delighting audiences all over the country Performing popular classics at an affordable rate
The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra was formed from a group of Midland and Northern based musicians in 1998.
Under their first Musical Director Lee Longden, they began playinging a wide range of Concert music all over Britain from Aberdeen to Truro in most of the countries major theatres and concert halls, as well as outdoor events such as Lincoln Castle Proms, Canizaro Festival and the Royal Automobile Country Club Epsom with fireworks.
In 2001 they spent a week at the Jersey Opera House, playing a season of concerts from Opera to Peter and The Wolf. The orchestra were invited to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Theatre Royal Newcastle on New Years Eve 2001 in a special Gala Concert presented by Lesley Joseph.
In 2002 Lee decided to hang up the baton and after a brief tenure under the Baton of David Gibson in 2006 Anthony Kraus took over the Musical Director post from which the Orchestra has gone from strength to strength.
They helped to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Darlington Civic Theatre in September 2007 with Ray Alan and Lord Charles.
They were invited to present an outdoor celebration for the Save The Children Fund in 2009 at Ellesmere, Cheshire where the movement was founded.
They are frequently in demand for their special Proms Concerts, Movie Nights and Viennese Strauss Gala’s and Christmas Gala’s and for over a decade now have performed a special gala concert for new years eve at Blackpool Grand Theatre, Newcastle Theatre Royal and Lowestoft Marina Theatre and for the last 5 years at Buxton Opera House culminating in Auld Lang Syne at midnight with audience participation.
Anthony Kraus
Anthony was educated at St Paul’s School and read Music at Bristol University, where he was also University Organ Scholar. Further studies followed at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he won the Ricordi Conducting Prize, and the National Opera Studio, supported by Welsh National Opera and the Sybil Tutton Trust.
Anthony is now in demand as a conductor, chorus master and coach throughout the UK and Europe. He has worked for many British and European opera companies and conservatoires, including English National Opera, English Touring Opera, The Grange Festival, Garsington Opera, Bampton Classical Opera, Opéra National du Rhin (Strasbourg), Rossini Opera Festival (Pesaro), Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He was Organist of St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, and has worked extensively with the Royal School of Church Music.
From 2003 until 2017 he was on the staff of Opera North, initially as Chorus Master, and subsequently as Acting Head of Music and Assistant Head of Music. He conducted several productions and concerts for the company, including The Marriage of Figaro, Così fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica, Cautionary Tales! (Errolyn Wallen), The Bartered Bride, L’enfant et les sortilèges (Ravel), The Adventures of Pinocchio (Jonathan Dove), Carousel (Rogers and Hammerstein), Ruddigore (Gilbert & Sullivan) and Joshua (Handel). He was also Chorus Master for the critically acclaimed Grimes On The Beach at the 2013 Aldeburgh Festival.
Since leaving Opera North he has conducted Hansel and Gretel for the Royal Northern College of Music, Dido and Aeneas and Trouble in Tahiti (Bernstein) for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, La Scuola di Gelosi (Salieri), Gli Sposi Malcontenti (Storace) Amahl And The Night Visitors (Menotti) for Bampton Classical Opera, and has recently worked with the vocal students at the Royal College of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He is Music Director of the British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and Associate Music Director of Sinfonia of Leeds. He has also worked many choral groups, including The Sixteen, Leeds Festival Chorus, and Huddersfield Choral Society, amongst others.
Future plans include A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Grange Festival later this year (with BSO), and engagements with Glyndebourne Tour, Opera North and Garsington Opera.
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The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra 2016
Leader – Emily Chaplais
Strings
Violin 1 – Anne Wilson, Mike Walton, Kate Pelling, Jem Bradley, Su Lee, Liz Heyes, Jo Atherton, John Dickinson
Violin 2 – Amanda Rowden Martin, Andrew Hughes, Catherine Walker, Rosy Williams, Anne Whitaker, Helen Clark, Elizabeth Goble, Zhivko Georgiev
Viola – Graham Gillan, Owen Little, Andrew Hodkinson, Liz Meldrew, Jan Tewson
Cello – Mark Walken, Graham Morris , Graham Brown, Simon Waglan, Sarah Bowler,
Double Bass – Pete Hamilton, Pete Moore, Andy Bargh, Russell Swift, Imogen Fernando, John Law
Woodwind
Flutes – Alison Madin, Helen Tudor, Rebbcca Gibson
Oboes – Racheal Broadbent, Cait Walker
Clarinets – Mark Ayres, Tracey Thurlow, Matt Dunn, Hannah McCabe,
Bassoons – Alison Brierly, Dave Gillot
Brass
Horns – Richard Madin, Lynn Bottomley, Alan Tolely, Geoff Snowdon
Trumpets – Pete Wraight, Tom Shevlin, Catherine Knight, Jeff Brothwell Johnny Thompson,
Trombones – Pete Lacey, Chris Cole, Will Mee, Ian Moseley, Paul Robinson
Tuba – Lee Dunkley
Timpani – Polly McMillan,
Percussion – Michael Clark, Steve Smith, Wallace Ruby, Pete BirkbyHarp – Diean Rowlands, Anita Aslin, Llewellyn Jones
Keyboards – John Morton