CONDUCTOR & MUSIC DIRECTOR
MEET OUR CONDUCTOR
Stephen Scotchmer
Stephen studied Music at Bristol University and conducting with Arthur Davison.
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During his many years as Musical Director of the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra he has conducted much of the standard repertoire, both orchestral and choral, including the full cycle of both Beethoven’s and Brahms’ symphonies. He has had the privilege of working with some of Britain’s finest musicians: Lesley Garrett, Kathryn Stott, Anthony Marwood, Martin Roscoe, James Lisney, Natalie Clein and Martino Tirimo.
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As a composer, Stephen has written a children’s musical, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Pub. MacMillan Ed.) a ‘cello concerto, a string quartet and string trio and many arrangements involving the cello as soloist, or as part of an ensemble. The Amsterdam Sinfonietta performed his nine-part string arrangement of Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso and Martino Tirimo (with the Silesian String Quartet) gave the world premiere of his arrangement of Chopin’s Là Ci Darem La Mano at King’s Place in London. This performance was subsequently broadcast on Classic FM. Other significant compositions include his Fantasy for Orchestra, a performing edition of Beethoven’s First Violin Concerto and St Michael's Mount, a fifteen minute choral work.
During the last six years he has completed a cycle of seven symphonies, a clarinet concerto and a commission from the Rivarate Choir. The clarinet concerto was recorded with the Brno Filharmonie (along with smaller orchestral works) in the Czech Republic at the beginning of April 2018. Several of his pieces for solo cello and cello ensemble were published in Germany during 2021. Listen to Stephen's 5th Symphony (Andante) here:
As a pianist, he enjoys accompanying his daughters, both of whom were, (at one time) full time members of the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra. Highlights have included playing the Greig Cello Sonata in the Wigmore Hall with Lucy and the Franck Violin Sonata in Leeds with Emma. Stephen is the conductor of the New Year’s concert given by the Honhardt Camerata in southern Germany.
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