Halle high flier graduates

18 Jul 2012

A University of Manchester music student appointed the Hallé’s youngest ever assistant conductor is graduating today (18 July).

Jamie Phillips, 20, from Birmingham, who landed the job at the internationality renowned orchestra, will start his new role in September.

The conductor, set follow in the footsteps of fellow Manchester alumnus Andrew Gourlay, also signed with one of the world’s leading music agencies Intermusica earlier this year.

He is a product of the University’s elite conducting programme taught by Mark Heron, and is set to follow in the footsteps of other star alumni conductors, including Mark Wigglesworth and Paul McCreesh.

The Assistant Conductor works with the Hallé’s Music Director, Sir Mark Elder, to help prepare concerts, conducts Hallé concerts in Manchester and around the country, and acts as Music Director and conductor of the Hallé Youth Orchestra.

Jamie said: "I am absolutely delighted to be given this role and feel very privileged  to be able to work with Sir Mark Elder.

"The conducting opportunities at The University of Manchester are unrivalled anywhere else in the UK - the chance to have so much contact time with ensembles with the guidance of expert teaching is fundamental to developing skills required to stand in front of musicians with confidence."

Dr Rebecca Herissone, Head of Music at The University of Manchester, said: “We are absolutely delighted the department’s current and former conducting students are having such an impact internationally, and that we have been able to create an environment that has helped them break into this highly competitive career.

“The combination of tuition and guidance, together with significant opportunities to conduct a wide range of orchestras and ensembles in very diverse repertoires is unrivalled in an undergraduate context.”

Mark Heron said: “Credit must go to the music department at Manchester for having the vision to create an environment in which these students’ undoubted natural ability has been able to develop so rapidly.

“Of course, having such talented conducting students has a very positive impact on the quality of music-making on offer to all of the students who play in the University orchestras and ensembles.”