Garry Walker
Biography
Walker received his secondary school education at St Mary's Music School.{{cite news | title=Music | author=Conrad Wilson | newspaper=The Herald | date=2007-06-27 | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/music-1.860409 | accessdate=2009-11-03}} His initial musical training was as a cellist,{{cite news |title=Climb every mountain |author=Cornwell, Tim |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=2004-02-07 |url=http://news.scotsman.com/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=2501329 |accessdate=2009-11-03 }} and he subsequently played cello in the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. In 1995, Walker graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University.{{cite news |title=Garry Walker Named Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra |author=Markowitz, Michael |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=2003-09-24 |url=http://www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=22258&highlight=1&highlightterms=&lstKeywords= |accessdate=2009-11-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128150345/http://www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=22258&highlight=1&highlightterms=&lstKeywords= |archivedate=28 November 2006 |df=dmy-all }}
In 1999, Walker won the Leeds Conductors Competition.{{cite news | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12413004.a-man-with-a-mission-garry-walker-tells-michael-tumelty-why-he-is-determined-to-bring-new-music-to-his-audience/ | title=A man with a mission: Garry Walker tells Michael Tumelty why he is determined to bring new music to his audience | work=Herald Scotland | author=Michael Tumelty | date=2004-11-16 | accessdate=2019-07-04}} He subsequently became associate conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO).{{cite news | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11958398.work-is-pouring-in-for-conductor-garry-walker-says-michael-tumelty-with-the-scottish-proms-his-next-big-project-now-hes-got-it-all-to-do/ | title=Work is pouring in for conductor Garry Walker | work=Herald Scotland | author=Michael Tumelty | date=2002-06-11 | accessdate=2019-07-04}} He subsequently served as principal guest conductor of the RSNO from 2003 to 2007.{{cite news | url=http://katemolleson.com/interview-garry-walker/ | title=Interview: Garry Walker | work=The Herald | author=Kate Molleson | date=2016-01-27 | accessdate=2019-07-04}}
Walker has also served as conductor of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, principal conductor of the Paragon Ensemble, and was a regular guest conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has served on the faculty of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) as a visiting professor of conducting, and the RCS formally created the post of artistic director. In November 2015, the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie announced the appointment of Walker as its chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season.{{cite press release | url=https://kulturland.rlp.de/aktuelles/detail/news/detail/News/garry-walker-wird-neuer-chefdirigent-des-staatsorchesters-rheinische-philharmonie/ | title=Garry Walker wird neuer Chefdirigent des Staatsorchesters Rheinische Philharmonie | publisher=Rhineland Pfalz Ministerium für Familie, Frauen, Kultur und Integration | date=23 November 2015 | accessdate=2021-05-16}} In June 2019, Opera North announced the appointment of Walker as its next music director, effective with the 2020–2021 season.{{cite press release | url=https://www.operanorth.co.uk/news/opera-north-announces-new-musical-leadership/ | title=Opera North announces new musical leadership | publisher=Opera North | date=24 June 2019 | accessdate=2019-07-04}} In February 2020, the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie announced that Walker is to stand down as its chief conductor at the close of the 2021-2022 season.{{cite press release | url=https://kulturland.rlp.de/de/aktuelles/detail/news/detail/News/rheinische-philharmonie-walker-verlaengert-nicht/ | title=Rheinische Philharmonie: Walker verlängert nicht | publisher=Rhineland Pfalz Ministerium für Familie, Frauen, Kultur und Integration | date=11 February 2020 | accessdate=2021-05-18}}
As one of his hobbies, Walker enjoys climbing mountains. He completed his goal to climb all 284 Munros.{{cite news |title=Peak practice {{sic|fr rom|nolink=y}} a young conductor used to scaling the heights |author=Tumelty, Michael |newspaper=The Herald |date=2008-09-27 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/1564053211.html?dids=1564053211:1564053211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+27%2C+2008&author=MICHAEL+TUMELTY&pub=The+Herald&desc=Peak+practice+fr+rom+a+young+conductor+used+to+scaling+the+heights&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023120325/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/1564053211.html?dids=1564053211:1564053211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+27,+2008&author=MICHAEL+TUMELTY&pub=The+Herald&desc=Peak+practice+fr+rom+a+young+conductor+used+to+scaling+the+heights&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 October 2012 |accessdate=2009-11-03 }}
References
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External links
- [http://www.garrywalker.net Official website of Garry Walker]
- [https://www.maxinerobertson.com/artists/garry-walker/ Maxine Robertson agency page on Garry Walker]
- [https://www.rcs.ac.uk/staff/garry-walker/ Royal Conservatoire of Scotland faculty page on Garry Walker]
- [https://edinburghyouthorchestra.org/meet-the-orchestra/alumni/ Edinburgh Youth Orchestra alumni page]
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{{succession box | title=Chief Conductor, Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie | before=Daniel Raiskin | years=2017–2022 | after=Benjamin Shwartz}}
{{succession box | title=Music Director, Opera North | before=Aleksandar Markovic | years=2020-present | after=incumbent}}
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Category:Alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music
Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester
Category:Musicians from Edinburgh
Category:Prize-winners of the Leeds Conductors Competition
Category:Scottish conductors (music)
Category:British male conductors (music)
Category:People educated at St Mary's Music School
Category:21st-century British conductors (music)