Biography
Anthony Bradbury was born in Worcestershire, England, and attended King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, where he played clarinet, piano and percussion with numerous orchestras, ensembles and wind bands. He continued his education at Brasenose College, Oxford University, where he graduated with an MA in Music. Whilst at Oxford, Anthony was awarded a scholarship to conduct the Brasenose chapel choir.
In his formative years as a conductor, Anthony formed his own orchestra, the Clent Festival Chamber Orchestra. He then worked with the Midland Youth Orchestra (he is a former MYO player) as Associate Conductor (1991-8), then Conductor (1998-2004), and finally its Music Director (2000-4) where, with Chairman Stephen Williams, he oversaw its metamorphosis into the exciting CBSO Youth Orchestra.
As well as being on the initial CBSO Youth Orchestra's Advisory Committee, Anthony shared the conducting of its inaugural concert with former City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Music Director, Sakari Oramo, in October 2004, and returned to conduct the orchestra in October 2006, again with Sakari Oramo, in an all-Stravinsky concert as part of the CBSO's 'IgorFest' Stravinsky project, with The Sunday Times saying that Anthony “drew a feisty performance from the excellent players.” In addition to his work with the youth orchestra, Anthony also conducted the CBSO strings in concert during the orchestra’s overseas tour to Taiwan in 2013.
For 15 years, Anthony also worked with Birmingham Festival Choral Society (BFCS) which, having been founded in 1843, is the longest established chorus still active in Birmingham. During this time, he enjoyed a highly fruitful musical partnership with Music Director Jeremy Patterson, first as his Assistant and then Associate Conductor, before being appointed the choir's Music Director himself.
Anthony is currently Principal Conductor of The Sanctuary Orchestra (formerly the Central England Ensemble), an orchestra whose remit is to raise money for homeless charities. Between 2001 and 2024, Anthony worked extensively with the Central England Ensemble (CEE) – an orchestra which existed to perform the works of Midlands’ based composers alongside cornerstones of the orchestral repertoire.
Anthony has also appeared as a guest conductor with a number of other organisations, including the Sinfonia of Birmingham, the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, and the professional orchestra Central England Camerata (CEC). With these various groups, he has directed a number of premieres and second performances, including music by Andrew Downes (with MYO, CEE & CEC), John Joubert (with BFCS), and Ruth Byrchmore (with MYO).
Other activities have included a BBC Radio 3 broadcast of three Christmas carols with BFCS, and a number of professional recordings of works by composer Andrew Downes made with the Central England Camerata, some of which can be found on the Audio & Repertoire pages of this website.
Anthony has performed abroad in France, Belgium, Holland, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Canada, China and Taiwan.
He is Chair of the James Langley Memorial Trust (which supports members of the CBSO Youth Orchestra), a member of the Association of British Choral Directors, the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), and a former Executive Board member of the National Association of Youth Orchestras.
Anthony is also a concert reviewer for the Birmingham Post newspaper, Musical Opinion magazine, and www.midlandsmusicreviews.co.uk
To download a full size copy of my biography photo, please right-click on the link here.
Anthony Bradbury was born in Worcestershire, England, and attended King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, where he played clarinet, piano and percussion with numerous orchestras, ensembles and wind bands. He continued his education at Brasenose College, Oxford University, where he graduated with an MA in Music. Whilst at Oxford, Anthony was awarded a scholarship to conduct the Brasenose chapel choir.
In his formative years as a conductor, Anthony formed his own orchestra, the Clent Festival Chamber Orchestra. He then worked with the Midland Youth Orchestra (he is a former MYO player) as Associate Conductor (1991-8), then Conductor (1998-2004), and finally its Music Director (2000-4) where, with Chairman Stephen Williams, he oversaw its metamorphosis into the exciting CBSO Youth Orchestra.
As well as being on the initial CBSO Youth Orchestra's Advisory Committee, Anthony shared the conducting of its inaugural concert with former City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Music Director, Sakari Oramo, in October 2004, and returned to conduct the orchestra in October 2006, again with Sakari Oramo, in an all-Stravinsky concert as part of the CBSO's 'IgorFest' Stravinsky project, with The Sunday Times saying that Anthony “drew a feisty performance from the excellent players.” In addition to his work with the youth orchestra, Anthony also conducted the CBSO strings in concert during the orchestra’s overseas tour to Taiwan in 2013.
For 15 years, Anthony also worked with Birmingham Festival Choral Society (BFCS) which, having been founded in 1843, is the longest established chorus still active in Birmingham. During this time, he enjoyed a highly fruitful musical partnership with Music Director Jeremy Patterson, first as his Assistant and then Associate Conductor, before being appointed the choir's Music Director himself.
Anthony is currently Principal Conductor of The Sanctuary Orchestra (formerly the Central England Ensemble), an orchestra whose remit is to raise money for homeless charities. Between 2001 and 2024, Anthony worked extensively with the Central England Ensemble (CEE) – an orchestra which existed to perform the works of Midlands’ based composers alongside cornerstones of the orchestral repertoire.
Anthony has also appeared as a guest conductor with a number of other organisations, including the Sinfonia of Birmingham, the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, and the professional orchestra Central England Camerata (CEC). With these various groups, he has directed a number of premieres and second performances, including music by Andrew Downes (with MYO, CEE & CEC), John Joubert (with BFCS), and Ruth Byrchmore (with MYO).
Other activities have included a BBC Radio 3 broadcast of three Christmas carols with BFCS, and a number of professional recordings of works by composer Andrew Downes made with the Central England Camerata, some of which can be found on the Audio & Repertoire pages of this website.
Anthony has performed abroad in France, Belgium, Holland, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Canada, China and Taiwan.
He is Chair of the James Langley Memorial Trust (which supports members of the CBSO Youth Orchestra), a member of the Association of British Choral Directors, the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), and a former Executive Board member of the National Association of Youth Orchestras.
Anthony is also a concert reviewer for the Birmingham Post newspaper, Musical Opinion magazine, and www.midlandsmusicreviews.co.uk
To download a full size copy of my biography photo, please right-click on the link here.
In rehearsal with the Central England Camerata, May 2017
