Xenopon Kelsey

A native of Ripon, Xenophon studied horn, double bass, piano and conducting in Manchester and was principal horn and conducting student on the European Summer Schools for Young Musicians in Vienna, Salzburg and Montreux from 1967-71. He has played horn with the City of Birmingham Symphony, Manchester Mozart and Ulster Orchestras, as well as various chamber ensembles and other orchestras.

As a conductor, he has specialised in work with young musicians. Most notably with Stockport Youth Orchestras, the Northern Youth Orchestras Association and Primavera Youth Chamber Orchestra, Cheshire. He has brought to his many orchestras a remarkable reputation for excellence. In 1989, he returned to Ripon to develop a varied freelance career as conductor, chamber music coach, composer, arranger and performer.

In addition to his work as conductor of the St Cecilia Orchestra, he directs the Ripon Community Orchestra and the Mowbray Ensemble. He was a moving spirit behind the establishment of the Ripon Cathedral Concert Society and the Ripon Youth Choirs Association – and he is the founder and director of the outstandingly successful Vacation Chamber Orchestras organisation, promoting residential courses for advanced music students and performing throughout Europe as well as in the UK. In 2003 he appeared as guest conductor with the Oxford University Orchestra in a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No 5 at the Sheldonian Theatre and in 2005 he conducted several performances Puccini's La Boheme with the Opus 1 Music Opera Group. He is also a member of the distinguished international jury at the European Festival of Music for Youth in Neerpelt, Belgium. At the 2007 festival he was appointed an 'Ambassador of the Festival' in recogntion of his work in developing youth music in Europe.