The start of my year has again been filled with education and outreach, with performances reaching 2000+ young ears when considering the CSO Family Concerts and OCYO Concerts for Schools combined. The music has ranged from Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra toRead more…
The Oxford Conducting Institute established the International Conducting Studies Conferences in 2016 with the explicit aim of promoting the cross-fertilisation of practice and research by bringing people together into productive dialogue. The initial success has grown into a biennial eventRead more…
The last 12 months have been very special for OCYO. Their accolades include, but are not limited to, providing workshops for Oxford University, performing concerts for schools (reaching 1500+ school children), collaborating with Ensemble Zohra (the first-ever all-female orchestra from Afghanistan),Read more…
I’m very pleased to announce this very exciting series of CSO concerts. This will be my seventeenth year as Principal Conductor and I continue to enjoy every minute of it! We look forward to welcoming you to theseRead more…
Oxford Encaenia, 26.06.2019. Working in parallel posts at Oxford, Royal Holloway, and Kings College London over the last 12 months has left little time for composing – so I was honoured when Simon Desbruslais approached me to write the fanfareRead more…
REVIEW (Pedro Stoeckli, gtc.ox.ac.uk): Maki Sekiya, St Anne’s Camerata chamber orchestra deliver a memorable evening. The Common Room in the Radcliffe Observatory was filled to capacity on Friday 31 May 2019 for a concert featuring pianist Maki Sekiya, Green Templeton College’s Musician-in-Residence,Read more…
It was an honour to work on two projects, last month, celebrating women in music. The first was the Oxford University Faculty of Music’s annual concert to celebrate women composers and performers, featuring works from across the ages. The secondRead more…
The start of my year is usually busy with concerts for younger audiences, filling the post Christmas lull. 2019 has been no different in respect, reaching over 2000+ young ears with five concerts. In addition to OCYO at the SheldonianRead more…
In January and February 2019 it has been a pleasure to conduct amore 30+ new works by composers across the student body at Oxford and beyond. First was a workshop with the St Anne’s Camerata [25 Jan] featuring 12 piecesRead more…
It has been a busy couple of months for the St Anne’s Camerata, with three very different events. I couldn’t be more proud of this project, which comprises student scholars from the university, professionals, and crucially, auditioned exhibitioners from OxfordshireRead more…
Sept 2018. I am very pleased to announce that for the coming academic year I have accepted a part-time Teaching Fellow (Performance) position at King’s College London. This will run alongside my lectureships/Director of Music posts at St Anne’s CollegeRead more…
14 July – 1 Aug 2018. July is always a busy month for me, but this year saw a week in Hong Kong (St Anne’s College, Oxford, Summer School), then onto to Germany for four wonderful concerts with OCYO (inRead more…
This conference explored issues pertaining to the study of conducting from a range of perspectives by bringing together research across a variety of disciplines including musicology, ethnomusicology, music education, philosophy, psychology, anthropology and sociology as well as from practitioners. TheRead more…
09.06.2018. Dr Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey and I had fun leading another Oxford Conducting Institute workshop, with OCYO, for student conductors at Oxford University. The repertoire was Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier Suite, giving nine university conductors their first taste of Strauss on the podium!Read more…
25-27 May 2018. It was a pleasure to return to Portugal to lead another weekend conducting coast for the ACCA. Thanks to their director, Luis Clemente, for the invite – he took a similar workshop with the St Anne’s CamerataRead more…
Last Saturday was the CSO’s annual concert at Romsey Abbey. There have been many memorable concerts there, for me, over the years, and the awesome Mahler aside, we couldn’t have asked for more amazing soloists this year – Thank youRead more…
Appropriation, Cross-Pollination, Cultural Transmission Another review of this interesting project last month – thanks to Des Oliver for spotting this in the Times of India (10 April 2018)
26.3.18. Thank you Burford Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra for a stunning premiere of my ’Suomi heraa’ (Finland Awakens) last night! It was a pleasure to conduct such an interesting group of musicians, and the Saint-Saens (Organ Symphony) and Sibelius (Finlandia)Read more…
A lovely project last month, working with Shuti Jauhari, Des Oliver, and Ensemble ISIS at Oxford University! CONCERT Shruti Jauhari & Ensemble ISIS Delage’s Quatre poèmes hindous (1912) A selection of Hindustani works New Work by Des Oliver John Traill,Read more…
23.2.18. The collaboration with Alberto Sanna, John, and the St Anne’s Camerata continued with a stunning performance that saw three groups join forces – The Camerata, Oxybaroxy (the Oxfordshire music service early music group) and Early Music as Education. Programme:Read more…
Click on the link to hear Richard English’s Into the Void from the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, 10th February 2018. This is the third piece that I have premiered by Richard, and I will definitely follow his career with enthusiasm!
9-11 February 2018. Oxford Philharmonic, St Anne’s Camerata, Atlantic Coast Conducting Academy A pleasure to deliver three workshops, the first a 3-day event with the St Anne’s Camerata and the Atlantic Coast Conducting Academy (director, Luis Clemente) for student conductors:Read more…
3.3.18. Oxford Concerto Competition – Final. Oxford Town Hall. A pleasure to again conduct the final concert of the biennial Oxfordshire Concerto Competition semi-final with the Oxford Philharmonic. Winner - Joshua Asokan (Scriabin Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 20), runner-ups VictoriaRead more…
2.2.18. The St Anne’s Camerata premiered 19 new compositions in a concert that concluded a 3 month collaboration with Prof. Sally Shuttleworth and the University of Oxford Curiosity Carnival. Performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTB04UIynNU Composer interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1saw-_u1jZM Leo Klintman Contagion Jo Willis Vogliomorire Ruth Harris Contagion CurseRead more…
26 Jan 2018. It was a pleasure to conduct three concerts in one day at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, to 1500+ primary school children. The programme included Copland ‘Hoe Down’ from Rodeo, Elgar Enigma Variations, Tchaikovsky ‘Waltz of the Floyers & Trepak’ from The Nutcracker, and Menkin Beauty andRead more…
It was a pleasure to conduct these concerts with the City of Southampton Orchestra last Saturday (20.1.18). Charlotte Corney, zoopkeeper extaordinaire (Isle of Wight Zoo), joined me in a concert that showcased animals and music. The programme included musicRead more…
Happy New Year! I’m excited to be starting starting work on this project… CONCERT Shruti Jauhari & Ensemble ISIS Delage’s Quatre poèmes hindous (1912) A selection of Hindustani works New Work by Des Oliver John Traill, conductor Shruti Jauhari, vocalistRead more…
A pleasure, as always, to conduct the Lord Mayor’s Carol Concert yesterday, with some of Oxfordshire finest young singers and instrumentalists. Merry Christmas!
Well, that was fun! Monday 13.11.17, conducting OCYO who thoroughly deserved to be awarded a place in the NFMY Schools Proms 2017. As the featured orchestra, we performed Bax Tintagel and a rousing finale of Elgar Pomp and Circumstance March No.1. I couldn’tRead more…
It was an absolute delight to work with Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir CBE! The residency involved conducting a workshop of student compositions at Oxford University, rounded of by an exciting programme that included Judith’s Psalm 148 (with Scholar Contorum), Blue-Green Hill (2013), ORead more…
Very happy to be launching my 15th year as Principal Conductor of the wonderful City of Southampton Orchestra – another great season coming up!!
I was delighted to be invited to conduct Martyn Harry’s ‘Come Spring’ and the world premiere of Sturdivant Adam’s ‘Polin’ in a concert celebrating 15 years of the Oxford Philharmonic. I have been privileged over the years to conduct thisRead more…
Very excited to be starting a o.5 3 year Teaching Fellow position at Royal Holloway, University of London (Composition, Conducting, Performance). This will run alongside my freelance portfolio and posts at Oxford University.
Another great year with OCYO, featuring Bax Tintagel, Walton Variations on a Theme by Hindemith, Sibelius Symphony No.1
What a fantastic day (3.6.17)! Celebrating 10 enjoyable years as Director of Music at St Anne’s College. An afternoon concert by the Camerata preceded choral workshops and a lovely performance of my new college grace (‘The Gardam Grace’) and ParryRead more…
A big thank you to the City of Southampton for generously giving their time for this Oxford Conducting Institute workshop! Conductors were chosen from Oxford and Southampton universities, to conduct either Borodin Polovtsien Dances or Strauss Die Fledermaus Overture. Conductors: Serena Anna Evans, RebeccaRead more…
On Saturday 6thMay the St Anne’s Camerata, under Director of Music Dr John Traill, gave a performance for the Bodleian Libraries Volcanoes exhibition, in Blackwell Hall at the Weston Library. Working closely with the exhibition curator,Read more…
I was very happy to be joined by these three special guests at this years OCYO Easter residential course at Radley College, 11-13 April 2017. The repertoire included Bax Tintagel, Walton Variations on a Theme by Hindemith, and Sibelius Symphony. no.2.
Excited to start work on a new commission for Double Bass ensemble and string orchestra, led by the fantastic bass specialist David Hayes! Today was the research phase, involving outreach with students from Burford school, all of whom will beRead more…
An absolute pleasure to conduct OCYO, celebrating 75 years of the Oxfordshire County Music Service, at Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Conductor, composer (Tristan Murail) and soloist (Myrddin Rees Davies), exhausted but exhilarated after a fine performance of Mémoire/Erosion
John was joined by Dr Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey to lead this OCI/OCYO workshop on Elgar’s In the South on Saturday 4th March 2017, featuring 15 students conductors from Oxford University: Kieran Lamb, Amy Chang, Mikey Ahearn, Maya Saxena, Thomas Featherstonhaugh, John Warner, Miriam Chapman-Rosenfeld, Elizabeth Nurse, Yi Yun Soo, Gabrielle Woodward, Isabel Stoppani de Berrie, EunseogRead more…
John and the St Anne’s Camerata welcome Luis Clemente (Atlantic Coast Conducting Academy) for a weekend course for OCI conductors (24-26 February 2017) Conductors included Hannah Towndrow, Hannah Schneider, Joshua Asokan, Yi Yun Soo
A very enjoyable weekend teaching conductors from across Europe in this exciting project in Portugal – delighted to be there again!
3 conductors from the OCI conducted the Oxford Philharmonic in their workshop on 17/2/2017 – Chloe Rooke, Hannah Schneider, Matthew Reese
Join us for a fun morning of amazing stories brough to live with live music and dancing! Our family concerts are suitable for all ages. Narrator: Phil Cheeseman www.csorchestra.org
Delighted to be starting my thirteenth season as principal conductor of the City of Southampton Orchestra!
OXFORD MAIL, 20th December 2016 Full house for annual Oxford Christmas Carol concert By Will Walker It was a full house for the Lord Mayor’s annual Christmas Carol concert as the Town Hall was given some festive cheer. TheRead more…
John is working on a joint collaboration with Deborah Pritchard, creating a new orchestration of Brahms German Requiem, for the Manchester Camerata. Ben Gernon will conduct the first performance, with the Manchester Camerata, at the Lichfield Festival, on 1st July 2016.
Commissioned by David and Lelia Sadlier, John’s Four Cornish Songs will be showcased by students of the Cornish American Song Institute during their UK tour in June 2016 (Oxford and Cornwall). David and Lelia will subsequently perform the songs in Europe andRead more…
The Arts Council/Artswork commission, organised by the Oxfordshire County Music Service, has involved John writing two concertos, both involving outreach in Oxfordshire schools. John’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra will be premiered by Simon Desbruslais and the Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra atRead more…
John will conduct the Oxford Philharmonic in the final of the Oxfordshire Concerto Competition, on Thursday 10 March 2016 in the Sheldonian Theatre at 7.30pm. The programme features Strauss Horn Concerto No.1 (Myrddin Rees Davies, St Hilda’s), Mozart Clarinet Concerto (David Mears, Royal Academy of Music), and Prokofiev ViolinRead more…
Commencing on 12th March 2016, John will lead a one-week residency with the Dutch group Joint Venture Percussion Duo (Laurent Warnier & Rachel Xi Zhang), culminating in the premier of his Double Concerto for Vibraphone and Marimba at the Sheldonian TheatreRead more…
*1-Day Course*: ‘Conductors Working in Education’, Saturday 21st February 2015, 10.00-5.00pm Sheldonian Theatre and Mary Ogilvie Lecture Theatre, St. Anne’s College, 56 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HS Description: Come and watch John Traill conduct the Oxford Philomusica in a 2hr workshopRead more…
John will be a featured conductor and composer with both the Ronen Ensemble and at the University of Indianapolis, USA, between Saturday Sunday 19th-Wednesday 22nd October 2014. His residency includes the premier of Memento, a work commissioned to commemorate theRead more…
At St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford The Oxford Conducting Institute, directed by Dr John Traill (Professional conductor, Director and Lecturer of Music at St Anne’s College), provide a series of workshops and short courses for conductors. Events range in focus,Read more…
The St Anne’s Camerata is a unique string orchestra (a hybrid of the traditional Oxbridge college choirs), comprised of professionals, student scholars, and youth exhibitioners. The group perform regularly at college events, and at venues and festivals fartherRead more…
Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra, 2014 Germany Tour Strauss – Der Rosenkavalier Suite, Respighi – Pines of Rome, Shostakovich – Symphony No.5 21st July 2014, Festhalle, Bad Schiedeberg, Germany, 7.30pm 22nd July 2014, St Pauli Ruine, Dresden, 7pm 23rd July 2014,Read more…
Since founding Ensemble ISIS in 2002, John and Ensemble ISIS have worked with many leading national and international composers, and last night was very special, honouring Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s honorary doctorate at Oxford. “It was a pleasure to work withRead more…
John Traill, Simon Desbruslais, and the St. Anne’s Camerata – Residency in Brasilia, Brazil, April 2014. From 8th-13th April 2014, the St. Anne’s Camerata, conducted by John Traill (Director of Music, St. Anne’s College), will provide a residency at theRead more…
Thursday 3rd April 2014 saw John recording 11 new works by RWCMD composers. Ranging from full symphony orchestra to string orchestra, the recordings took place in the stunning Dora Stoutzker Hall in Cardiff. Works featured included James Golborn – BabaRead more…
On Saturday 29th March 2014, John performed the Bruch Violin Concerto with Juliette Roos (BBC Young Musician of the Year, String Finalist 2012). This was the second time they have collaborated, the first being last March with the City ofRead more…
Premiere of two new compositions, Lightbobs, by John Traill, at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Saturday 15th March 2014, 7.00pm. Commissioned by the Oxfordshire County Music Service, Lightbobs is comprised of two versions, for 200 beginner instrumentalists, and 200 children’s voices. BothRead more…
On Thursday 6th March 2014, John conducted the final the of the Oxfordshire Concerto Competition 2014, at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. The competition, a partnership between the Oxford Philomusica, the University of Oxford, and the Oxfordshire County Music Service, nowRead more…
John conducts Ensemble ISIS, as part of Judith Weir’s residency at the University of Oxford’s New Music Forum. The ensemble is the only faculty managed group and has some of the finest performers across the University. The programme will include the European premier of ‘Blue-GreenRead more…
OCYO at their best, performing Strauss Don Juan and Elgar Pomp and Circumstance March no.1 at the Royal Albert Hall, Tuesday 12th November 2013. A thoroughly deserved performance, and it is always a pleasure to conduct near 5,000Read more…
Fantastic effort by the City of Southampton Orchestra last night – an excellent start to the season, performing Shostakovich #8, Bourgeois Trombone Concerto, and Britten Pas de Six. Particular thanks to Mike Buchanan, soloist, whose performance formed part of hisRead more…
Looking forward to working with student conductors at the University of Oxford next week!
This Friday’s performance will feature circa 400 of Oxfordshire’s finest young musicians, participating in a massed performance of Benjamin Britten’s Friday Afternoons, on the 100th anniversary of his birth. This has been a very exciting year of Britten performances forRead more…
A fabulous concert celebrating the music of Robert Saxton. The programme included Simon Desbruslais performing both trumpet concertos, and the premiere of Rhapsodic Variations on Robert Saxton’s Little Prelude that I organised and wrote the final variation for (thank toRead more…
Following on from being awarded the Classic FM Special Achievement prize at the National Festival of Music for Youth, in Symphony Hall Birmingham (early July 2013), John and OCYO will close the NFMY ‘Proms’ at the Royal Albert Hall onRead more…
[Tribune, Friday 6th September 2013, Cary Gee] Oxford is a city full of music and the Oxford Proms (brainchild of violinist Edmund Jones) are a welcome addition to the summer scene. A series of chamber music is framed by orchestralRead more…
In 2013 – the 100th anniversary year of Benjamin Britten’s birth – John will perform a substantial portion of the composers orchestral repertoire, and direct large education projects to mark the occasion. He has also been commissioned by American tenor,Read more…
In 2013, John has continued to direct performances and workshops for the Faculty of Music, Oxford. These have included (for details of the Advanced Musicianship Programme John directs for St. Anne’s College/OCMS, please see separate Blog post): CHROMA composition workshopRead more…
Following the extremely successful launch of the Oxfordshire Concerto Competition in 2012, by the Oxford Philomusica in partnership with the Oxfordshire County Music Service, 2013 saw John return to conduct both the semi-final and final. A notable strength of thisRead more…
On 1st April 2013, 2pm, John was mentored by maestro Valery Gergiev in a workshop run by the Oxford Philomusica. John conducted Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and benefitted from Gergiev’s kind words and guidance. The workshop preceded a performance byRead more…
On 11th May 2013, John will perform Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, concluding a collaborative and educational project between the City of Southampton Orchestra, Winchester Symphony Orchestra, and young musicians from across the region. The three week project includes combined rehearsals,Read more…
John has been invited to conduct the Oxford Proms Orchestra for a third year running, performing two concerts in the Oxford Proms series, August 2013. This innovative summer orchestra, that has previously featured distinguished soloists that include Masayuki Kino, MamiRead more…
John directs an exciting collaboration between the Oxfordshire County Music Service and St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford (where John is Director of Music), presenting the Advanced Musicianship Programme aimed at secondary schools across Oxfordshire, with a particular focus on preparing GCSE,Read more…
On 7th March 2013, John conducted the annual Oxford Philomusica Composition Workshop (part of the orchestras’ significant residency at the University of Oxford). Carefully selected composers, submitting for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, benefited from hearing their works in theRead more…
On 21st February 2013, John will launch the new Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Contemporary Music Ensemble. In collaboration with John Hardy and the composers at the RWCMD, the project features repertoire studied in seminar groups that relatesRead more…
Guild Records release Autumnal – Chamber Music by Thomas Hyde (GMCD7389), featuring John Traill (Conductor), Edward Vanderspar (viola), Eliza Marshall (flute/alto flute), Catriona Scott (clarinet), Ruth Potter (harp), and Katherine Jenkinson (cello). Recorded 2011-2012, John was also a studio director forRead more…
On Sunday June 24th 2012, John performed with the Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra and composer Howard Goodall, in a climactic close to a weekend of Jubilee concerts in Tom Quad, Christ Church College. This concluded a three day event that featuredRead more…
John, with the City of Southampton, provided several Titanic-themed projects as ambassadors to the 100th Anniversary of the great tragedy. In addition to running education projects linked to their annual family concert, the CSO gave a special performance of Ralph VaughanRead more…
Faculty of Music > News > Recent Articles (http://www.music.ox.ac.uk/news/recent-articles/john-traill-premiere-in-the-royal-albert-hall-this-week.html) A new work, by John Traill (Director of Music, St Anne’s College, and Lecturer at St Catherine’s College, Oxford) will be premiered at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 9th NovemberRead more…
John premiered Andrew Gant’s opera Don’t Go Down The Elephant After Midnight, with soloist Patricia Rozario, at the Tete-a-Tete Opera Festival, Hammersmith, on 2nd and 3rd July 2008. Repeat performances at Oxford, again with New Chamber Opera, were warmly receivedRead more…
On Thursday 16th October 2008, John conducted the Oxford Philomusica at Merton College Chapel, Oxford. The programme included Robert Saxton’s Music to Celebrate the Resurrection, Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No.2 (with Mark Simpson, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2006), Wagner’sRead more…
John premiered ten new works by leading British composer with the London Contemporary Music Group. The concert celebrated the 100th birthday of Elliott Carter, and includes John’s Little Concertino for Six. Rian Evans, The Guardian, Tuesday 9 September 2008 AsRead more…
Oxford University website > News. 27 August 2008 (http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_releases_for_journalists/270808.html) An Oxford University conductor is embarking on what is believed to be the first ever podium exchange in the UK with an amateur orchestra – by swapping places with a maestroRead more…
Following John’s appearance on BBC Radio 3 CD Review, the BBC discussion board erupted into an elaborate debate about whether trailers should interrupt the programme. Comments about John were very complementary, however: BBC Radio 3 Discussion Board, 15 March 2008Read more…
On Sunday 21st October 2007, at 3pm, John will give the London premier of a new score by Jean Hasse for F.W.Murnau’s 1926 film, Faust, with the South West Ensemble. The premier will be given on Saturday 13th October, atRead more…
On Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th, and Friday 21st September 2007, John will be premiering a new opera, ‘The Corley Conspiracy’ by Tim Benjamin, with exciting new music ensemble Radius (see www.radiusmusic.org). The opera is for actors and ensemble and theRead more…
On Friday 1st Sepember 2006 (8pm at the Tivoli Theatre, Chattanooga, Tennessee), John Traill was awarded the William L. Montague 2nd Prize at the prize-winners’ concert of the Vakthang Jordania International Conducting Competition 2006. The competition featured 24 finalists, fromRead more…