Brian Priestman facts for kids
Brian Priestman (born February 10, 1927 – died April 18, 2014) was a talented British conductor and music teacher. A conductor is like the leader of an orchestra or choir. They guide the musicians to play together and make beautiful music.
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About Brian Priestman
Brian Priestman was born in Birmingham, England. He loved music from a young age. He studied music at the University of Birmingham in England. He also studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in Belgium.
His Work as a Conductor
Brian Priestman led many orchestras and music groups. He started his own groups called the Opera da Camera and the Orchestra da Camera in Birmingham. He also worked at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 1960 to 1963.
He was the Music Director for several orchestras, including:
- The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1964–1968)
- The Handel Society of New York (1966–1970)
- The Denver Symphony Orchestra (1970–1978)
- The New Zealand National Orchestra (1973–1976)
- The Florida Philharmonic (1977–1980)
- The Cape Town Symphony (1980–1986)
He also appeared as a guest conductor with many famous orchestras. He conducted over 300 concerts for the BBC. He performed in Australia, Hong Kong, and many European countries. He also led concerts at the Mostly Mozart festival and the Aspen Music Festival.
Recordings and Teaching
Brian Priestman made recordings for RCA and Westminster Records. He was known for recording some of the first complete operas by Handel.
Besides conducting, he was also a dedicated teacher. He was a professor at the University of Cape Town from 1980 to 1986. He was also an artist-in-residence at the University of Kansas from 1992 to 2002. For three years, he was the Music Director for the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
His Writings and Awards
Brian Priestman wrote many articles about music. His writings appeared in important music books and encyclopedias. These included The New Grove Encyclopedia and Encyclopædia Britannica.
He received special honors for his contributions to music. He was given honorary doctorates from Regis University and the University of Colorado. He also received the Golden Lyre award for his work in music in the United States.
Brian Priestman passed away on April 18, 2014, at his home in Broze, France.
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| Preceded by Lee Hepner |
Music Directors, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra 1964–1968 |
Succeeded by Lawrence Leonard |
See also
In Spanish: Brian Priestman para niños
