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Martyn Ford - Amateur Projects


One of his recent projects has been the formation of a freelance symphony orchestra, The Derby Festival Orchestra. Comprising of Midlands based professionals, music teachers, music students and gifted amateurs, it gave its debut concert on June 24th 1995 at The Derby Festival with the renowned international guitarist Nicola Hall playing Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” to great critical acclaim. Its fourth concert was at The University of Derby's International Awards Day Concert in the Assembly Rooms, Derby and featured former BBC Young Musician of the Year, violinist Nicola Loud playing the Mendelssohn Concerto. The concert was a sell-out, and the orchestra played three encores!

Martyn also conducts various amateur and student orchestras, choirs, wind and brass bands. His Wilmorton Symphonic Wind Ensemble enjoyed excellent reviews for its concerts, performing at the Assembly Rooms, Derby, in Derby Cathedral, and with the professional sinfonia Viva in Darley Park, Derby and at the Derby School's "Proms" Concerts in Derby's Assembly Rooms.

At Martyn's instigation, with him conducting, the Ensemble gave the World Première of an innovative new piano concerto at the Derby Tertiary College. Composed by Tor Underseth this innovative new work includes a rhythm section, an orchestra and improvised playing, dance and conducting.

Martyn worked at the Derby Tertiary College for several years as a Music Development Officer and was responsible for numerous projects on the campus including the formation and conducting of Wilmorton Symphonic Winds, various rock and jazz ensembles, and initiated several world music projects.

He has been responsible for music performance at Derby and De Montfort Universities’ degree ceremonies, the former with The Derby Festival Orchestra and the latter with that University’s brass ensemble.

For over a decade, Martyn was the Musical Director of The Derby Concert Band, the city’s symphonic wind ensemble, which he has helped develop from being a very modest unit playing in small venues, into a large and competent ensemble that sold-out its first concert in Derby Cathedral December 1999, and every September plays to a sell-out audience at The Assembly Rooms, Derby, last year playing a programme of American related music in the first half (Gershwin, Bernstein, Dvorak), and a Last Night of the Proms second half (Holst, Elgar and Henry Wood).

He has worked for Classic FM on their Crosse and Blackwell Master class Series with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra for whom he is the horn and brass coach.

Before moving to the Midlands, Martyn worked with numerous amateur orchestras in London and the Home Counties.



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©  Martyn Ford, 2004