Martyn Brabbins

The fourth of five children in his family, he learned to play the euphonium, and then the trombone during his youth at Towcester Studio Brass Band. He later studied composition at Goldsmiths, University of London.{{cite press release | url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/graduation/honorary-degrees/hondeg13/brabbins.html | title=Honorary degrees 2013 - Martyn Brabbins | publisher=University of Bristol | date=31 January 2013 | accessdate=2016-10-27}} He subsequently studied conducting with Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatory.

Brabbins first came to international attention when he was awarded first prize at the Leeds Conductors Competition in 1988. Between 1994 and 2005, Brabbins was Associate Principal Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He became principal conductor of Sinfonia 21 in 1994. He was artistic director of the Cheltenham Music Festival from 2005 to 2007.{{cite news | author=Rian Evans | title=Festival Academy/Brabbins (Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham) | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/22/classicalmusicandopera2 | work=The Guardian | date=2008-07-22 | accessdate=2008-09-13}} During his Cheltenham tenure, he established a new ensemble, the Festival Players.{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=The Scottish are coming | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jun/23/classicalmusicandopera | work=The Guardian | date=2006-06-23 | accessdate=2008-09-13}} In Leeds, he created a new chamber music series called "Music in Transition".{{cite news | author=Alfred Hickling | title=Opera North Ensemble/ Brabbins (The Venue, Leeds) | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2005/oct/14/classicalmusicandopera1 | work=The Guardian | date=2005-10-14 | accessdate=2008-09-13}} On 17 July 2011, Brabbins conducted the 6th live performance of Havergal Brian's Symphony No. 1 "The Gothic", at The Proms,{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Prom 4: Gothic Symphony – review | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/18/prom-4-gothic-symphony-review | work=The Guardian | date=2011-07-18 | accessdate=2012-03-14}} which was later released on a Hyperion commercial recording.{{cite news | author=Fiona Maddocks|authorlink=Fiona Maddocks | title=Havergal Brian: Symphony No 1 ('The Gothic') – review | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/nov/27/havergal-brian-gothic-symphony-1-review | work=The Observer | date=2011-11-27 | accessdate=2012-03-14}} Brabbins was subsequently named president of the Havergal Brian Society. Brabbins is also conductor laureate of the Huddersfield Choral Society. In 2002, Brabbins founded a training course for aspiring conductors at the St Magnus International Festival in Orkney,{{cite news | author=Tom Service | author-link=Tom Service | title=The maestro in me | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/14/classicalmusicandopera1 | work=The Guardian | date=2006-07-14 | accessdate=2008-09-13}} which he continues to co-direct.

Outside of the UK, Brabbins became principal guest conductor of deFilharmonie (Royal Flemish Philharmonic) in 2009. He held the position of chief conductor of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra from 2012 to 2016.

Brabbins first guest-conducted at English National Opera (ENO) in 2001, in a production of David Sawer's From Morning to Midnight. On 21 October 2016, ENO named Brabbins its next music director, with immediate effect.{{cite press release | url=https://www.eno.org/news/martyn-brabbins-new-music-director-english-national-opera/ | title=Martyn Brabbins announced as new Music Director of ENO | publisher=English National Opera | date=21 October 2016 | accessdate=2016-10-22}} On 15 October 2023, Brabbins resigned from ENO, with immediate effect, in protest at proposed music personnel reductions to the company's music staff.{{cite press release | url=https://www.eno.org/news/a-statement-from-the-eno-regarding-martyn-brabbins-resignation/ | title=A statement from the ENO regarding Martyn Brabbins' resignation | publisher=English National Opera | date=15 October 2023 | accessdate=2023-10-18}}{{cite news |last1=Tilden |first1=Imogen |title=ENO's music director resigns over proposed cuts to musical staff positions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/15/enos-music-director-resigns-over-proposed-cuts-to-music-staff |access-date=18 October 2023 |work=The Guardian}}

In June 2024, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Brabbins as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2025-2026 season, with an initial contract of three seasons.{{cite press release | url=https://malmolive.se/artiklar/martyn-brabbins-utsedd-till-ny-chefsdirigent-for-malmo-symfoniorkester | title= Martyn Brabbins utsedd till ny chefsdirigent för Malmö SymfoniOrkester | publisher=Malmö Symphony Orchestra | date=12 June 2024 | access-date=2024-06-14}}{{cite press release | url=https://www.intermusica.com/news/5068 | title=Martyn Brabbins announced as Chief Conductor of Malmö Symphony Orchestra | publisher=Intermusica | date=12 June 2024 | access-date=2024-06-14}}

Brabbins has conducted commercial recordings of music for such labels as Warner,{{cite news | author=Edward Greenfield | title=Bruch: Violin Concertos nos 1 and 3 Hanslip/ LSO/ Brabbins | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/oct/11/classicalmusicandopera.artsfeatures2 | work=The Guardian | date=2002-10-11 | accessdate=2012-03-13}} Chandos,{{cite news | author=Edward Greenfield | title=Gregson: Clarinet Concerto; Violin Concerto; Blazon; Stepping Out, Collins/ Charlier/ BBCPO/ Brabbins | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/oct/10/classicalmusicandopera9 | work=The Guardian | date=2003-10-10 | accessdate=2012-03-14}}{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Scott: Symphony No 3, The Muses; Piano Concerto No 2; Neptune: Shelley/ Huddersfield Choral Society/ BBC Philharmonic/ Brabbins | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/may/07/classicalmusicandopera.shopping3 | work=The Guardian | date=2004-05-06 | accessdate=2012-03-14}}{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Bax: St Patrick's Breastplate etc, Bunning/ Huddersfield Choral Society/ BBC Philharmonic/ Brabbins | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/feb/06/classicalmusicandopera.shopping | work=The Guardian | date=2004-02-06 | accessdate=2012-03-14}}{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Scott: Symphony No 1; Cello Concerto, Watkins/ BBCPO/ Brabbins | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/feb/15/classicalmusicandopera.shopping3 | work=The Guardian | date=2008-02-14 | accessdate=2012-03-14}} Hyperion,{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Walton: Symphonies Nos 1 and 2 etc – review | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/23/walton-symphonies-review | work=The Guardian | date=2011-06-23 | accessdate=2012-03-14}}{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Tippett: Piano Concerto; Handel Fantasia; Piano Sonatas Nos 1-4, Osborne/ BBCSSO/ Brabbins | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/02/classicalmusicandopera.shopping | work=The Guardian | date=2007-11-02 | accessdate=2012-03-14}} NMC,{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Britten on Film, Russell Beale/ Carewe/ BCMG/ Brabbins | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/09/classicalmusicandopera.shopping | work=The Guardian | date=2007-03-08 | accessdate=2012-03-14}} Nimbus,{{cite news | author=Michael McManus | title=Introducing the Great Animal Orchestra Symphony | url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/feature/introducing-the-great-animal-orchestra-symphony | work=Gramophone | date=2014-07-22 | accessdate=2014-10-21}} and Deutsche Grammophon.{{cite news | author=Anthony Holden | title=Birtwistle, Theseus Game, Earth Dances | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/aug/01/classicalmusicandopera1 | work=The Observer | date=2004-07-31 | accessdate=2012-03-14}}

Recordings include:

Saint-Saëns: piano concertos n°2 & n°5, Louis Schwizgebel-Wang, piano, BBC Symphony Orchestra, cond. Martyn Brabbins & Fabien Gabel; label Aparté 2015

Brabbins and his wife Karen (née Evans) met at Goldsmiths. The couple married in 1985, and have three children. In January 2013, the University of Bristol awarded Brabbins an honorary degree, of Doctor of Music honoris causa.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.intermusica.co.uk/brabbins Intermusica agency biography of Martyn Brabbins]
• [http://www.answers.com/topic/martyn-brabbins Answers.com page on Martyn Brabbins]
• [http://www.defilharmonie.be/dirigenten/martyn-brabbins Dutch-language page of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic on Martyn Brabbins]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022146/http://www.gigmag.co.uk/news.php?id=674 "Martyn Brabbins moves to NPO". International Arts Manager, 15 December 2011]

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{{succession box | title=Artistic Director, Cheltenham Music Festival | before=Michael Berkeley | years=2005–2007 | after=Meurig Bowen}}

{{succession box | title=Chief Conductor, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra | before=Thierry Fischer | years=2012–2016 | after=Kazuhiro Koizumi}}

{{succession box | title=Music Director, English National Opera | before=Mark Wigglesworth | years=2016–2023 | after=(post vacant)}}

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Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:English conductors (music)

Category:British male conductors (music)

Category:Artistic directors (music)

Category:Prize-winners of the Leeds Conductors Competition

Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London

Category:Saint Petersburg Conservatory alumni

Category:21st-century British conductors (music)

Category:21st-century British male musicians