School of Creative Arts, Film and Media (SCAFM)

Profile

Colin did a music degree at Manchester University and then went to the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in Cincinnati, USA, to study for a Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting. While at CCM, he was the Musical Director for the Cincinnati Sinfonietta and the Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Philharmonia and CCM Opera.

He then worked for a year as an Assistant Conductor to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra before getting a permanent job as the Director of Orchestral Activities at Albion College in Michigan. After three years in this position, and seven in the USA, personal considerations got the better of him and he returned to the UK to get married!

Almost a year later, in May 2000, he was appointed Director of Music at the University of Portsmouth, where his duties include conducting the university ensembles, running the music electives programme, and validating the BMus and MMus degree programmes offered by the Royal Marines School of Music. In September 2001 he started the University of Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, and in March 2003 the Dramatic & Musical Society's production of Fiddler on the Roof won an 'Accolade of Excellence' at the National Operatic & Dramatic Association Southern Area Awards.

Non-university commitments have included being the Musical Director for Stage One Youth Theatre, and Farnham Amateur Operatic Society. Most recently, he has brought a series of international chamber music concerts to Portsmouth which began in October 2004 at Portsmouth Cathedral.