Our Conductor

Martin Binks was born in Knaresborough and educated at Rutherford Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne and at Taunton’s school, Southampton. He read for the Honours Degree of B.Mus. At the University of Birmingham and followed this with a further year at University College, Cardiff. It was whilst at Birmingham that he began conducting, organising his own concerts with the University Orchestra. He studied conducting with Sir Charles Groves and Louis Frémaux whilst they were the Conductors of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. aaaaaIn September 1970 Martin became conductor of the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and has conducted nearly 250 concerts with the Orchestra. During his time as conductor the repertoire has been varied, from the early eighteenth century to the present day. Perhaps particularly noticeable has been the inclusion in the programmes of much French music, with nearly all of the orchestral music of Berlioz being performed. aaaaaAs Artistic Director and Conductor of West Riding Opera, he has conducted over two hundred and forty performances of forty operas in Leeds Civic Theatre and the Carriageworks Theatre. aaaaaHe is a guest conductor of the Oslo Conservatoire Orchestra and of York Opera. aaaaaIn recognition of his services to French music with the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and West Riding Opera, the French Government appointed him Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1993. He received the insignia from the French Ambassador in May 1994. aaaaaMartin has been conductor of Knaresborough Choral Society since 1999, and has conducted performances of major works by Purcell, Bach, Handel, Charpentier, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Berlioz, Fauré and Orff with the Society.