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If I could have the chance to speak to one artist however, it would be the Scottish conductor Bryden Thomson. I grew up listening to his great recordings with the Ulster Orchestra and have since spoken to many musicians here in Wales who remember him fondly. They say he was a musicians’ conductor. I’ve always been convinced that finding the correct tempo is key to any work, and I’ve never disagreed with any of Bryden Thomson’s.
Eugene Monteith Conductor, and currently Music Librarian at BBC NOW Tell us a little about yourself
What was the last CD/music download that you purchased?
I come from Strabane, County Tyrone, a working-class border town in the North of Ireland. I was pretty shy and reserved growing up, but I began to find my own distinct voice and passion through music. I benefited greatly from having access to free cornet lessons at school; soon I was playing in brass bands four days a week and playing trumpet in youth orchestra on Saturdays – so I got most of my formative musical training away from the classroom.
Photo: Chris Stock
The Thin Red Line Recording Sessions. A rare CD of unused session music by Hans Zimmer for Terrence Malick’s 1998 war epic. It’s an incredible film, one that allows for introspection and self-reflection through the eyes of one of the main characters, Private Witt. Hans Zimmer’s score (his best they could – financially, and perhaps most in my opinion) gives you the space to have importantly, being the taxi service we all that inner monologue to explore your own need growing up as young musicians! They thoughts. It was a film I loved in my teens, worked very hard to give me and my sister and, I guess after the past year, it just felt I went on to read music at Queens every opportunity to thrive and pursue like something I needed to go back to. University, Belfast, and afterwards studied our passions and careers. I try to take their orchestral and choral conducting at the generosity of spirit with me every day and What are your plans for the future? Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in emulate it, whether in my professional or At the moment, I’m just taking every day Cardiff, the city where I met my lovely wife, my personal life. as it comes. I’m looking forward to our soprano Llio Evans, and which I happily industry getting fully opened again very now call home. What would you say is your greatest soon. achievement to date? Away from music, I am a keen cricketer, and, thanks to the 2020 lockdown, Professionally, conducting the RTÉ Concert Finally, what is your ISM membership to you? I’ve finally developed a healthy and Orchestra in the National Concert Hall in sustainable relationship with running – I wouldn’t have said that back in 2019!
Dublin comes pretty close. It’s a special place for every Irish musician. It was also the first professional gig that my parents Who (or what) has most influenced you were able to attend. They were so proud. and your career? For the first time they could really see the I’ve had many great teachers and mentors; years of hard study I went through coming however, the greatest influence has together at last. And on a personal note, certainly come from my parents. They gave marrying my beautiful wife Llio of course – me the confidence and support I needed to Diolch o galon blodyn! raise my head above the parapet and push Who is your all-time favourite artist myself out into the wider world. I was the first person in my extended family to go to and why?
To me, the ISM is a community, a support network, and an invaluable resource to any musician. I joined as a student to take advantage of the fantastic student membership rate, and initially used the organisation as a resource to set my fees – something I had very little experience of doing. As time has gone on, I’ve taken advantage of the career development, tax, insurance, and contractual advice on offer. I currently feel very proud to be an ISM Member. The team has worked tirelessly university, so, most of the time, my parents I don’t think I have one! Having studied over the past few years, supporting us all didn’t understand what I was doing as they music for so long, I’m probably too critical through Brexit and now the pandemic. were not musicians or college-educated, now to have a single favourite. I go through Their work on behalf of all musicians has but they helped in every way phases, so I’ve had my Karajan phase, been second to none. my Bernstein phase, my Kleiber phase.
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