Douglas Boyd Artistic Partner

Douglas Boyd's international reputation as a conductor is on the rise. Now in his ninth season as Music Director of the Manchester Camerata, Boyd continues to transform the orchestra into one of England’s finest. Like so many of Boyd’s performances, his debut with the Camerata at London’s fabled Proms concerts was praised for clarity, vibrancy and musicality.  Boyd and the Camerata returned to the Proms in July 2009 with an acclaimed program of Haydn and MacMillan, one of the many living composers he champions.

Boyd is now in his sixth and final year as Artistic Partner of the SPCO, with whom he performs, records and tours regularly, including an acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall.  Boyd was recently appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Colorado Symphony and also holds this title with the City of London Sinfonia.  In the 2009-10 season, he joins Switzerland’s oldest orchestra, The Musikkollegium Winterthur, as Principal Conductor and will take the orchestra on several tours throughout Europe. 

Recent and forthcoming North American conducting highlights include appearances with the Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Seattle, and Utah symphonies.  Boyd’s 2009-10 season includes returns to Colorado, Saint Paul, Toronto and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.

Highlights around the globe include appearances with the BBC, Bournemouth, Budapest Festival, and Royal Scottish National orchestras, the Salzburg Mozarteum, Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras and Japan’s NHK Symphony.  During the 2008-09 season, Boyd added opera to his conducting repertoire.  Featured productions included Die Zauberflöte with Glyndebourne Opera on Tour and Fidelio at Garsington Opera, U.K.

A founding member and Principal Oboist of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE) until 2002, Boyd’s return to the COE in the role of guest conductor has been a success in London and on tour throughout Europe.  The acclaimed Berlioz Symphonie fantastique performance he led in London for the orchestra’s Silver Jubilee, as well as the combined forces of the COE and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra he led as part of the 2009 International Chamber Orchestra Festival were truly cause for celebration.

Boyd's recording of the Bach Concerti for Deutsche Grammophon marked his recording debut as director/soloist.  His live recordings as a conductor with Manchester Camerata of Beethoven, Mahler and Mozart symphonies have received universal critical acclaim.  Over time, Boyd and the orchestra plan to record the complete Beethoven Symphony cycle.  Boyd also recently recorded Schubert Symphonies (SPCO Media) and the works of George Tsontakis (KOCH International Classics) with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.  The Second Violin Concerto on the Tsontakis recording received both a 2008 Grammy Award nomination and the prestigious Grawemeyer Award.