Conductor and Leader
Conductor: Dorian Dimitrov
Emerging as a rising talent in the conducting world, Bulgarian-British conductor Dorian Dimitrov has made a dynamic impact on the scene. He made his conducting debut with the Guildhall Concert Orchestra during his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, sparking his passion for the podium. This led him to learn with esteemed conductors and pedagogues such as Paavo Järvi, Leonid Grin, Nicolas Pasquet, Johannes Schlaefli, and Jonathan Bloxham. Currently, Dorian is pursuing his Masters in conducting at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf under the mentorship of Professor Rüdiger Bohn.
In 2014, Dorian was invited by Kristjan Järvi to assist the Baltic Sea Philharmonic in Germany, a pivotal collaboration that opened doors to prestigious ensembles like the London Symphony Orchestra, MDR Symphony Orchestra (Leipzig), BBC Concert Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. His participation in the Järvi Academy conducting masterclass in 2019 further advanced his career, providing the opportunity to work closely with Neeme, Paavo, and Kristjan Järvi, as well as Leonid Grin. He conducted both the Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Järvi Academy Sinfonietta during the masterclass.
Dorian has since conducted renowned orchestras including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, and the Varna State Orchestra in Bulgaria. He has also assisted prominent conductors such as Alondra de la Parra (Hamburg State Philharmonic, Berliner Rundfunk, London Philharmonic), Vlad Conta (Oradea Philharmonic), and Leonid Grin (Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Chile). In 2022, he was invited by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to assist Music Director Domingo Hindoyan for their season-closing concert, which led to ongoing collaborations, including work with international soprano Sonya Yoncheva.
Looking ahead to the 2024/25 season, Dorian will continue his successful partnerships, returning to collaborate with orchestras such as the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as well as leading a performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony with the Hounslow Symphony Orchestra, Chiswick Voices, and Chiswick Community Choir.
Before shifting his focus to conducting, Dorian began his musical journey as a pianist at the age of nine. He earned a scholarship to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School under Professor Ruth Nye, where he trained for six years. He continued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying piano with Professors Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva, and graduating with Honours. As a pianist, Dorian has performed at prestigious venues across the UK and Bulgaria, including Wigmore Hall, Fairfield Halls, Menuhin Hall, Banqueting House, and Festival Hall in Bulgaria, with appearances on Bulgarian National Television and Radio.
Leader: Nicola Garty
Nicola completed a B.Mus in violin performance at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand before winning an ABRSM scholarship to study piano and violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Having gained her LRAM she toured France, Germany and Austria and eventually settled in Italy, where she played in L’Orchestra Lirica Sinfonica del Teatro del Giglio in Lucca for two years. She played in the Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago and at opera festivals in Bari, Foggia, Arezzo, and at Operade Bauge in France.
On her return to the UK Nicola played in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast and the Scottish Ballet Orchestra. Nicola has played in the West London Sinfonia and was recently guest leader of the Thames Philharmonia. Nicola teaches piano, violin and singing at St Catherine’s School in Twickenham and piano at St James’s School, Ashford. She also teaches privately in her own home. She is organist and director of a 20-strong church choir in Addlestone and runs Music Time for under 5s in Chiswick.