Crispin Ward

As a conductor Mr. Ward is in constant demand throughout the World, especially enjoying his time in US, Austria, France and Switzerland. He was appointed Principal Conductor with the British Chamber Orchestra. With a vast repertoire, this young vigorous ensemble was in demand across the country, regularly appearing at major festivals and venues. He is also guest conductor with many other UK ensembles.

Mr. Ward’s experience includes directing over thirty operas and other theatrical productions. His repertoire includes productions of Magic Flute, Marriage of Figaro, Beggars Opera, Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, Orpheus in the Underworld, Carmen. He also has extensive experience of musical theatre including Oliver, Sweeney Todd (which won the NODA award for the best UK show of the year),

For three years, Crispin Ward was granted a British Foreign Office Scholarship to support his efforts as the Principal Guest Conductor of the National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova. This post also involves conducting other orchestras in Moscow, Kiev, Odessa, Bucharest, Tver and around the former Eastern Bloc.

He has also given masterclasses to advanced music students in both musical history and performance practice. He is involved at government level with the development and promotion of cultural links between Britain and Ukraine, Moldova and Russia and was involved in meetings between Moscow and Chisinau (Moldova), the first meeting at ministerial level since the break up of the Soviet Union.

Whilst working in Moldova, he instigated a music education project with the orchestra that is now in its second year. This has involved over two hundred performances in schools to some 12 000 children.

As a result of his extremely successful work across the spectrum Moldovan music, Mr. Ward received the title of Om Emerit from President Vladimir Voronin. This is the highest award that a visitor can receive and is the equivalent of a British Honorary Knighthood and  he holds full Moldovan citizenship.

As a composer, Mr Ward won the International IVCA gold award for best film music for the film Reivers 12. His transcriptions of Shostakovich has won him critical aclain and he has just been commissioned to write a new score for the Russian silent film Battleship Potempkin.

He is a Senior Lecturer in Orchestral Studies at University of Chichester, the largest music department in the UK, teaching to degree level in composition, history and performance practice.