Ep 36: Michael England, conductor, composer, musical director
In the 'House Seats'
English - January 17, 2021 09:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBPerforming Arts Arts Education performing arts theatre west end broadway musicals choreography acting singing theater performing Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Michael England was born in Colchester and went on to study at Huddersfield University. Since then he has embarked on a highly successful career as conductor, composer and musical director.
In London’s West End, Michael has been Musical Director for Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Spamalot, The Producers, Jerry Springer – The Opera (also BBC TV) and Doctor Dolittle. On tour he has been Musical Director for The Sound of Music, Evita, Les Misérables, Aspects of Love and Grease. He has also been Assistant MD on Cats, Miss Saigon and West Side Story.
He has been Musical Supervisor for productions of Company; The Drowsy Chaperone; the all male productions of H.M.S. Pinafore (Hackney/UK tour), Iolanthe (Wilton’s), Patience (Union Theatre) and The Pirates of Penzance (Australia Tour/Sydney Theatre).
He has worked as an accompanist in London, Paris, Sydney and New York and has been musical director for John Barrowman, Tony Award winner Liliane Montevecchi and Olivier Award winner Ruthie Henshall.
In 2010 Michael was invited to conduct the opening weeks of Cameron Mackintosh's 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables, he conducted the new live cast album, and worked on the recent film version.
Orchestral conducting credits include The Philharmonia Orchestra, (Buckingham Palace), Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra, Stockholm Sinfonietta, and the Slovenia Radio Symphony Orchestra (televised).
He has worked as Cover Conductor for the Royal Ballet productions of The Rite of Spring; Giselle; Chroma; Concerto; The Judas Tree; Monotones; La Valse and Marguerite & Armand.
He has composed music for film, TV, theatre, and the concert platform, as well as writing and conducting orchestrations for Ruthie Henshall's album, Pilgrim. He has also orchestrated The Ballad of Little Jo, Company and the new production Judy & Liza. He attended the Film Music Institute Orchestration Course in Los Angeles and composed the score for the film Night Junkies, released in the USA in 2007.
Michael has twice composed music for the Royal Ballet, Draft Works (Clore) and New Works (Linbury). His 40 minute ballet, La Destinée, commissioned by the Royal Ballet School, premiered at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in July 2013.
www.michaelengland.info