Mick Dowrick

Mick Dowrick is now in his second series as resident conductor with the Nelson Symphony Orchestra.

Mick's conducting career began almost 20 years ago when he began studies with Malcolm Binney and Timothy Reynish at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, and at the world-renowned Canford Summer School in Dorset. Mick was selected for commissioned rank in 2000 within the Royal Marines and spent two years studying full-time at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he gained a Master of Music Degree with Distinction and the Michael Brierly Award in conducting.

Throughout his 30 year career in the Royal Marines, Mick has studied and worked with many of the leading lights in modern wind and brass composition and conducting, and has performed and conducted in Scandinavia, Europe, Russia, America, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to conducting bands and orchestras, Mick has also produced and directed a number of recordings for the Royal Marines.

Mick joined the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines as a bassoonist and trombonist, travelling extensively throughout Europe, Scandinavia and America. He was fortunate to travel via the Middle and Far East to New Zealand and Australia aboard Her Majesty’s Yacht 'Britannia'. Composition and music arranging developed seriously during this period with a whole range of small works for Woodwind Quintet and a number of works written for National UK Events including the Queen Mother’s One Hundredth Birthday Celebrations, the Royal Tournament and the Edinburgh Tattoo.

Mick is extremely keen on music for all - but not at the demise of standards or repertoire. He thoroughly enjoys the challenge of rehearsing new and old works and loves music performance, trying to bring freshness and understanding to any music that he is involved with.

Listen to Mick's interview with Eva Radich for the Upbeat radio programme