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St Cecilia Conductor
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A native of Ripon, Xenophon Kelsey 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.

In the 2009 Birthday Honours he was awarded the MBE for his services to music.


 


10 March
Ripon Film Society
13 March
Harrogate Choral Society
20 March
Ripon Choral Society
20 March
Harrogate Symphony Orchestra
6 April
Vacation Chamber Orchestras
7 April
Vacation Chamber Orchestras
8 April
Vacation Chamber Orchestras
9 April
Vacation Chamber Orchestras
10 April
Vacation Chamber Orchestras
17 April
Richmondshire Choral Society
17 April
Music in Masham
24 April
Richmondshire Concerts
1 May
St Cecilia Orchestra
1 May
NYM Chamber Music Festival
7 May
Ripon Young Musicians of the Year
8 May
Ripon Young Musicians of the Year
14 May
Music in Masham
15 May
St Paulinus Singers
22 May
North Yorkshire Chorus
29 May
Swaledale Festival
29 May
Music in Masham
30 May
Swaledale Festival
1 June
Swaledale Festival
2 June
Swaledale Festival
2 June
Swaledale Festival
3 June
Swaledale Festival
3 June
Swaledale Festival
4 June
Swaledale Festival
4 June
Swaledale Festival
5 June
Swaledale Festival
6 June
Swaledale Festival
6 June
Swaledale Festival
8 June
Swaledale Festival
9 June
Swaledale Festival
9 June
Swaledale Festival
10 June
Swaledale Festival
10 June
Swaledale Festival
11 June
Swaledale Festival
12 June
Harrogate Choral Society
13 June
Swaledale Festival
17 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
18 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
19 June
Fountains Abbey
19 June
Ripon Choral Society
19 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
20 June
Swaledale Festival
21 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
21 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
22 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
23 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
24 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
25 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
25 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
25 June
Music in Masham
26 June
Northern Aldborough Festival
10 July
Fountains Abbey
10 July
Harrogate Philharmonic Orchestra
28 July
Fountains Abbey
14 August
Fountains Abbey
16 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
18 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
20 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
21 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
21 August
Fountains Abbey
23 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
25 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
27 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
28 August
NYM Chamber Music Festival
29 August
Fountains Abbey
11 September
St Cecilia Orchestra
2 October
Fountains Abbey
9 October
Fountains Abbey
16 October
Fountains Abbey
22 October
Music in Masham
23 October
Fountains Abbey
20 November
North Yorkshire Chorus
2 December
Fountains Abbey
4 December
Fountains Abbey
4 December
North Yorkshire Chorus
5 December
Fountains Abbey
9 December
Fountains Abbey
11 December
Fountains Abbey
12 December
Fountains Abbey
18 December
St Cecilia Orchestra
18 December
Fountains Abbey
19 December
Fountains Abbey
21 May, 2011
North Yorkshire Chorus