Paul Hilliam – Music Director
Paul Hilliam was born in Canterbury and educated in Bournemouth. Following studies in London he worked as an oboist before turning to conducting. He now lives in Leicestershire.
While in London Paul formed the professional chamber orchestra London Camerata, receiving early encouragement from Lady Barbirolli and Ursula Vaughan Williams. He directed this Orchestra in concerts throughout the south east of England, appearing regularly at St John’s Smith Square, London and in the Canterbury International Orchestral Series. Since 1999 Paul has been the Principal Conductor and Musical Director of the Heart of England Orchestra.
Engagements have taken Paul to Britain’s most prestigious venues, such as the Barbican Hall in London, Symphony Hall in Birmingham, St. David’s Hall in Cardiff and Buxton Opera House. His work abroad has included concerts and radio broadcasts in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and America. In 2001 Paul conducted the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra in the USA in a performance of ‘Harmonic Rhythm’, a new concerto for timpani by the American composer, Russell Peck. He returned to America for further concerts in 2008.
In England he has conducted premiere performances of works by British composers including Douglas Coombes, Jeremy Pike and Paul Sudlow and by the Russian composer Andrey Rubstov. Popular presenters with whom Paul has worked include Brian Kay of BBC Radio 3 and John Suchet (ITN News).
Alongside Paul’s work with professional orchestras, he is involved in conducting concerts for a wide range of amateur orchestras and choirs. Local orchestras he has worked with include the Bardi Orchestra, Leicester Symphony Orchestra, Charnwood Orchestra, Stamford Chamber Orchestra and Peterborough Symphony Orchestra. He also enjoys conducting concerts for children. His educational work has included a workshop with members of the Philharmonia, concerts with young soloists from the Birmingham School’s Symphony Orchestra and several interactive schools concerts with the Heart of England Orchestra.
In 2007 Paul was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Rutland Sinfonia.
David Calow – Associate Conductor
David Calow was born and educated in Leicester, receiving his early musical training from the Leicestershire School of Music. He played flute and piccolo in the National Youth Wind Orchestra from 1978-84, under the baton of Harry Legge, a renowned expert on the Symphonic Band repertoire.
David became Music Director and Conductor of the Bardi Wind Orchestra in 1996 and has conducted every concert since. The Wind Orchestra now has an enviable reputation performing at the De Montfort Hall Summer Gala Concerts, Christmas Festival concerts at Holy Trinity Church, and the Bradgate Park and Hinckley Prom Concerts.
In 1995 David was appointed Music Director of the I.D.O.L.S Operatic Group in Leicester for their Little Theatre production of South Pacific. Over the following ten years he directed Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma!, The King and I, Guys & Dolls, Mack and Mabel, Anything Goes and Kiss Me Kate. He has also directed full productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell.
In 2007 David was appointed Associate Conductor of the Rutland Sinfonia. After a decade of adventurous classical concerts, he has continued with a series of concerts showcasing music from the stage and screen, including this year’s sell-out movie and musicals concert in Oundle.
In January 2015 he became Music Director and Conductor of the Leicester-based Clarendon Park Orchestra and has enjoyed working with and encouraging an enthusiastic group of local musicians for 10 years!