Guest Conductor - Michael Seal

Michael Seal holds the position of Associate Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), a unique appointment that recognises his work as Assistant Conductor, and the special relationship he has built with the orchestra.

His in-depth knowledge of orchestras from an insider’s position (he was a violinist with the CBSO early in his career) gives him a unique perspective and he quickly builds rapport and trust with the orchestras he works with. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and he has built a reputation for outstanding results, delivered with great charm and often on a typically British tight rehearsal schedule.

Michael has worked with many of the UK and Ireland's finest orchestras, frequently being invited as guest conductor with all 5 BBC orchestras, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras, as well as the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, BBC Concert Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra.
He made his conducting debut at the BBC Proms in 2023 with the CBSO conducting the Proms’ first Bollywood concert.

Internationally, he has conducted the Brussels Philharmonic, WDR Funkhausorchester Köln, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Joensuu City Orchestra, Orquesta Académica del Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón, Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.
Michael has a special bond with the CBSO Youth Orchestra, conducting them on numerous occasions, and being involved with them since their foundation. He is also Artistic Advisor and Conductor for the CBSOYO Academy, a chamber orchestra formed in 2007.

His love of opera led to critically acclaimed performances of Puccini’s Il Trittico at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He has also assisted both Sakari Oramo and Andris Nelsons in opera performances of Peter Grimes, Carmen, Der Rosenkavalier, Lohengrin, Tristan and Isolde and The Flying Dutchman. Michael is also a champion of lesser-known British composers such as Bantock, Bax and York Bowen, as well as film music.

During the global pandemic of 2020/21, Michael started his podcast, ‘a mic on the podium’, which is a weekly interview with another prominent conductor. It has become highly successful, gaining rave reviews and, due to its unique format, it has now been placed in the National Sound Archive at the British Library.

His recent debuts in Finland have led to immediate reinvitations to the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in November 2024 and Kuopio Symphony Orchestra in January 2026. He made his debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra in December 2023 and returned to conduct them again in February 2025. Other engagements this season include returns to both the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra.

March 2025  

Assistant Conductor - Matthew Quinn

Matthew is a versatile conductor/musical director from Belfast, Northern Ireland who is developing a reputation for his exciting and dynamic approach to his music making. Working primarily across the UK and Ireland, Matthew has conducted ensembles such as the Ulster Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble, Chamber Choir Ireland and the orchestra and chorus of Northern Ireland Opera.

He is comfortable across a wide range of operatic, orchestral, and choral repertoire. He has received multiple conducting accolades, including as winner of the 2019 RTÉ/Feis Ceoil Orchestral Conducting Award with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra – securing the opportunity to record Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony with the orchestra in the 2020/21 season. He is currently the musical director of Cappella Caeciliana, the London Youth Chamber Choir, and the Northern Ireland Opera Chorus. He has worked as assistant conductor with ensembles such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus, and London Mozart Players.

He is highly adept at working with new music, and in the 22/23 season alone premiered over twenty new works with ensembles such as the Ulster Orchestra, Chamber Choir Ireland, Northern Ireland Opera, and the Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble. He is also a passionate advocate for music education, having previously conducted the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, Ulster Youth Orchestra (national youth orchestra of Northern Ireland), and London Youth Chamber Choir.

Matthew enjoys collaborations across many musical styles and genres; past collaborations include with Andrea Boccelli, Jamie Cullum, and Stephen Schwartz. Matthew has held young artist positions as a conductor at Northern Ireland Opera, The Sixteen, and Crouch End Festival Chorus, and has studied with illustrious conductors such as Sir Harry Christophers, Jac van Steen, Toby Purser, and Kenneth Woods.