James Rose blog charts his journey as he breaks into music conducting. Each article will look at different aspects of the project, sometimes providing resources should others want to develop their musicality. The aim is also to make sense as to why this journey is happening now and to pinpoint its conception.
Posts by James Rose
Playing the Proms in the Park and the BBC Relaxed Prom
October 21, 2018My time with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has been unbelievable, but the last few months especially have been a real whirlwind. From what began as just an idea I had over 4 years ago, to performing at the BBC Proms alongside the full orchestra, I can hardly believe that it’s ...
A Year at the BSO
July 8, 2018I have now been at the BSO for a year, and during this time so much has happened. When I started last June, we didn’t have a composer, no performance dates, an ensemble name or any musicians! In twelve months, we have gone from plans and ideas to featuring in ...
BSO Resound
April 23, 2018I’m now over half way through my 18 month placement with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and while we have already done so much there is still more to do. Since my last blog post the BSO have launched their new disabled-led ensemble, BSO Resound. I am delighted to welcome the ...
New Year, New Challenges
January 28, 20182017 was a busy but exciting year and I have now successfully been working at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for six months. These months have gone by so quickly but a lot has been achieved in this time. Conferences During my time with the BSO, I have attended some fascinating conferences. On ...
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
November 28, 2017Composer-in-residence It is safe to say that I have settled into my role at the BSO and still loving it! Since my last post, we have recruited Alexander Campkin as the ensemble’s Composer-in-Residence for the ensemble about which I am so delighted. The journey from whittling down to 1 composer from ...
Concerts and Composers
September 1, 2017I’m in my eleventh week at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and I’m loving it! Recently, I went to the BSO’s very own Proms in the Park staged over three days in Meyrick Park, Bournemouth. This fun-filled 48 hr period included meeting the private donors contributing a significant amount against ...
Starting at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
August 7, 2017Since my last post on Disability Arts Online (DAO) last October, things have progressed far beyond anything I could have imagined. Since you’re reading this, you might have already noticed the publicity surrounding Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s (the BSO) Change Makers project and that I am now training there to develop ...
Conducting at Royal Academy of Music – The Evaluation
October 5, 2016My last post was about my preparation for the project week and now I'm reporting back on what happened. I'm pleased to say that the project at Royal Academy of Music in May went extremely well. I've taken the liberty of providing you with an audio recording of the pieces I ...
New Score, New Head-Baton, and Ready to Make Some Noise!
May 3, 2016This is my last blog article before the conducting development week at The Royal Academy of Music and things are hotting up. The score is ready and we now have a brand new version of the head baton. It has been interesting preparing the parts for the four instruments all be ...
The Learning Process
April 18, 2016Transitioning from a visual-centric way of thinking to the audio equivalent has been an interesting journey. It has entailed a change in the priority of what senses I use and ultimately how I think. With film, theatre, and dance, one can visualise their intentions before making them a reality. But ...
The Physicality of Conducting
March 7, 2016Whilst at the Royal Academy of Music, I have learnt many things. Whilst watching a conducting student practicing and being taught by Sian Edwards (RA Head of Conducting), you’ll often see the other conducting students moving their hands and or batons in the air internalising the instruction and music. At ...
Why Conducting?
February 9, 2016So why get into a really weird and specialised art form about which few people understand? I have set my sights high in committing to the journey of music conducting, I know, but it feels right. Whilst I was preparing my application to the Arts Council, I was asked to write ...
