Michael Seal
Conductor

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In May 2005, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Michael Seal as its first Assistant Conductor. Michael had conducted the CBSO in a number of performances previously, and impressed audiences, critics and the Orchestra alike when he stood in for the CBSO's Music Director, Sakari Oramo, at extremely short notice in December 2004, producing a dramatic interpretation of the world première of Richard Causton's Between Two Waves of the Sea and conducting the CBSO's Benevolent Fund concert.

Michael Seal was born in London in 1970. He started learning the violin at the age of 9, going on to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire and joining the CBSO in September 1992. It was whilst studying at the Birmingham Conservatoire that Michael first started conducting, learning with Jonathan Del Mar. Since then Michael has had coaching and masterclasses from Sakari Oramo and Jorma Panula.

In 1996, he conducted his first concert with the Birmingham Philharmonic and has subsequently conducted them regularly in venues throughout the Midlands.

Michael has been Principal Conductor of the Sinfonia of Birmingham since 2002, frequently performing concerti with CBSO members and leading them on highly successful tours of the Rhine and Mosel Valleys in April 2002, Tuscany in April 2004 and Holland in 2006. Michael has also worked with the Midland Concert Orchestra, the Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham University Symphony Orchestra.

His work with the CBSO has included Schools and Family concerts, giving a performance of Lutoslawski "Chain 1" in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, appearing with the CBSO on 3 separate occasions at the Aldeburgh Festival, recording 3 tracks for the promotional CD, "Classic Discoveries", as well as recording tracks for the CBSO website.

During the first two years of his three year tenure as Assistant Conductor, Michael conducted Family, Schools and Matinée concerts and led the CBSO during Artsfest in Centenary Square. Outside Birmingham he has appeared with them in Aldeburgh, Milton Keynes, Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton. His first Subscription Concert in March 2007 with a programme including Hugh Wood's Piano Concerto, with Joanna MacGregor as soloist, and Walton Symphony No.1 was broadcast by BBC Radio 3.

In June 2007, Michael made his debut with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Future engagements include repeat visits to the Sinfonia of Birmingham, including a tour of Poland in May 2008, and the Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra, including a tour to Prague in March 2008. He will also conduct the CBSO Youth Orchestra in October 2007 as well as directing the inaugural CBSO YO Summer Academy. CBSO engagements include concerts at Artsfest, the Malvern Festival and a Subscription Concert in January 2008.

2007/08

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