"....Stephen Ellery demonstrated total understanding of the work (Shostakovich Symphony No.1) conducting with success this complex and inspired symphony...."
El Commercio, Peru.
"He is a talented musician with natural conducting abilities, temperament, and a lively character.....He has mastered a large repertoire and has developed excellent conducting skills."
Prof. Ilia Musin, St Petersburg Conservatory
Last week, literally days before the first rehearsal, Stephen Ellery was called to replace another conductor. The program included Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique, Mendelson's Violin Concerto (soloist -Vadim Brodski)and Wagner's Prelude to Act 1 of Lohengrin in Katowice, Poland with the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in Poland.The concert was a major success.
Highlights of his 2007/8 schedule include Vaughan Williams's Oboe Concerto in Radom, baroque concertos in Olsztyn, film and television music with a youth orchestra in London, Tchaikovskys Serenade and more with the Locrian Ensemble in London and compositions by Japanese composer Kambei Takao in Tokyo (Japan).
Stephen Ellery was awarded the Special Prize in the 2007 Bartok International Opera Conducting Competition held in Romania. He has previously been a prizewinner as well as the Best Artist and recipient of the Polish Radio Prize at the Fitelberg International Conducting Competition in Poland in 1999.
Major orchestras he has conducted include the Tokyo City Philharmonic, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Mexico City Philharmonic, Sofia Festival Orchestra, Gunma Symphony Orchestra, Krasnoyarsk Academic Symphony Orchestra, Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Peru and the Locrian Ensemble of London.
From 2004 to 2006 his concerts with the Trans-opera Orchestra at St James's Church, Piccadilly, London, were critically acclaimed.
His opera repertoire includes Tosca, La Boheme, Madam Butterfly, La Traviata, Rigoletto, Nabucco, Le Nozze di Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte, Evgenii Onegin, Yolanta (Tchaikovsky), Boris Gudonov, The Flying Dutchman, The Medium, Samson et Dalilah, Bluebeard's Castle, I Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana.
His symphonic repertoire includes major symphonic repertoire as well as contemporary works by Berio, Varese, Boulez, Lutoslawski, and Takemitsu et al.
He has worked extensively with youth orchestras in Russia, Japan, Czech Republic and currently conducts a youth orchestra in London.
Stephen Ellery’s training took him from Birmingham (UK), to Krakow (Poland), and to St Petersburg (Russia) where he was a student of Professor Ilya Musin for 4 years.
He speaks Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Polish, French, German and Italian. He holds a Master Degree in Conducting from Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music.
Contact
79 Seymour Rd
London
E10 7LZ
ellery007@hotmail.com
For reviews/comments please see below.
"The Fantasy on a theme of Tomas Tallis....was interpreted with conviction by Stephen Ellery who revealed an ample knowledge of the score..."
El Commercio, Peru. October, 1994
"....Stephen Ellery as usual performed with humour. Conducting Shostakovich's Symphony No.1 he told the horns to play as if they were firing from Kalashnikov rifles, then told the whole orchestra to play as sad as if their children had been sent to Yakutsk.Then he told the clarinettist to play as if he was a worker whistling on his way to work..."
Aktualnosci, Poland, December, 1999.
"Maestro Ellery showed phrasing, expression and precision (in his interpretation of Debussy's la Mer)..."
El Commercio, Peru, September, 2002.
"Every performance was meticulously prepared, and performed with great passion and panache."
Prof. Andrew Downes, Birmingham Conservatoire
"One of those rare people who can make everyone feel good and find just the right amount of humour to humanise each situation....he was the front runner in the opera and contemporary (music) field."
Maestro Edward Warren, Senior Tutor in Conducting, Royal Northern College of Music
"..In terms of inspiration, originality and sheer determination he seems to have something special to offer..."
Maestro Jonathan Del Mar
"......absolutely amazing ...... I thoroughly enjoyed it!"
"....really brought the music alive....a combination of verve and sensitivity"
"I was particularly held by the episodes of feverish restlessness in the Schoenberg piece and how it resolved itself into gentle tranquillity."
"Every performance was meticulously prepared, and performed with great passion and panache."
"a lovely ensemble, well fused, and your countertenor's is such a clear, engrossing voice"
"It really was a stunning performance"
"a lovely ensemble, well fused, "
"The concert last night was wonderful! Congratulations!"