Biography
Robin Browning enjoys a busy conducting career both in the UK and abroad. He is currently music director of five orchestras – Wimbledon Symphony Orchestra, Petersfield Orchestra, Southampton University Symphony Orchestra, Essex Youth Orchestra and de Havilland Philharmonic (resident at the University of Hertfordshire). He has enjoyed long-term relationships with the Royal Orchestral Society, Hertfordshire Chamber Orchestra, Winchester Chamber Orchestra, and Dorset Youth Orchestra, amongst many others. Between 2006 and 2009 he conducted the Chelmsford Sinfonietta, a newly-formed professional orchestra for the east of England. In addition, Robin is passionately committed to training younger musicians, guest-conducting with orchestras at both Trinity College and Guildhall School of Music. In 2008 he was involved in the Barbican Young Orchestra project, alongside Peter Stark & Sir Colin Davis.
Since making his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s Barbican Centre, which was broadcast on Classic FM, Robin has conducted the Hallé, English Northern Philharmonia, Northern Sinfonia, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Ensemble Intercontemporain, St Petersburg Festival Orchestra and the Estonian National Youth Orchestra. He took second prize in the NAYO Conducting Competition in 1994, and won the inaugural Boosey & Hawkes Award at the Edinburgh Festival the following year.
Robin has been assistant conductor to Benjamin Zander with the Philharmonia Orchestra, in both the concert hall and recording studio. He assisted Wayne Marshall as part of the Harrogate International Festival, and more recently Sir Mark Elder. Robin has performed in some of the world’s most famous concert halls, including Snape Maltings, London’s Cadogan Hall, the Rudolfinum in Prague, and the Banff Centre in Canada. In 2008, Robin gave a concert at the Olympic Stadium, Nanjing, conducting live on Chinese television before an audience of millions. He has enjoyed working with a wide array of soloists, including Lynne Dawson, Gordon Hunt, Guy Johnston, Aled Jones, Jack Liebeck, Craig Ogden, Charles Owen, Ruth Palmer, Jennifer Pike, Stephen Stirling and Raphael Wallfisch.
Robin studied at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena with Myung-Whun Chung and the legendary Ilya Musin. He furthered his training in the USA with Joseph Gifford. In 2008 he was invited to the David Oistrakh Festival in Estonia, for masterclasses with both Neeme Järvi and Paavo Järvi. Robin has also enjoyed periods of study with Sir Charles Mackerras, Sian Edwards, Markus Stenz and Benjamin Zander. Robin is increasingly sought-after as a teacher of conducting, with his highly-regarded conducting course running yearly at the University of Southampton.
2008 saw the release of Robin’s first professional studio-recording – a CD of music by John Hopkins – on the UHRecordings label. A second CD, fanfares, fancies and fugues followed in 2009. An album of Christmas music, and a recording of music by Raymond Warren are due for release during 2011. This year also sees Robin continue his celebration of Mahler’s symphonies, including No 7 with Essex Youth Orchestra and No 10 with the Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra in London. He performs the Dvorak Violin Concerto with Jack Liebeck, Beethoven’s Emperor with John Lill, and Beethoven’s Choral Symphony with Brighton Festival Chorus. Summer tours take Robin to Italy and the Czech Republic, where he will perform Mahler’s 7th Symphony as part of this year’s Mahler anniversary celebrations. In the Autumn Robin makes his US debut, conducting the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra.
For a downloadable biography and publicity photos, please see Robin’s Press Kit
