Scottish Sinfonia conductor

Neil Mantle MBE - Conductor of Scottish Sinfonia

Neil Mantle began conducting at the age of fifteen when he formed his own Chamber Orchestra. He studied horn at the Royal Academy of Music and subsequently at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and maintained a successful freelance career for many years. He won the conducting prize at RCS, and subsequently second prize in the Leeds Conducting Competition.

He founded Scottish Sinfonia in 1970 and has remained their conductor ever since, celebrating his half century with the orchestra in 2020.

Neil Mantle has a large repertoire of scores — some 350 in total — conducted at public concerts. Although he is at home in a wide variety of schools and styles, he is especially regarded as an exponent of British Music, particularly Elgar and Vaughan Williams. He has also championed the works of Mahler, performing all nine symphonies several times. This cycle has appeared on compact disc.

He is an examiner to the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, an elected member of the Royal Society of Musicians, and holds an honorary degree from the Royal Academy of Music — a recognition awarded to past students who have achieved distinction within the music profession.

Neil was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2008 for Services to Music in Scotland.

Scottish Sinfonia

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Neil Mantle MBE - Conductor of Scottish Sinfonia