As a conductor of orchestras, choirs, and jazz ensembles Scott Stroman is renowned for his keen ear, rhythmic strength, attention to detail, broad knowledge and wide experience. A specialist in modern music, his musical vocabulary genuinely embraces classical, jazz, and world music and he is often called upon to direct programmes combining music of many styles or performers from different genres. His musical strength and depth also allows him to bring his insight and inspiration to the standard orchestral and choral repertoire.
Scott works with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera de Lyon, London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, English Chamber Orchestra, Young Sinfonia, Western Sinfonia, BBC Radio Orchestra, Orchesta Sinfonica Galicia, and many others.
Since 2000 he has worked regularly with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, directing the LPO's unique Renga Ensemble which collaborates with musicians from outside classical genres, and conducting their touring Hit Squad chamber ensemble and Future First ensemble for young professionals. He was principle conductor of the Western Sinfonia from 1990-2002 and of the Young Sinfonia from 2002-2006.
He is co-founder and director of the OPUS 20 String Ensemble, Britain's leading performers of contemporary classical music for strings, with whom he has premiered dozens of works and collaborated with many composers, performed throughout Britain and in the USA, Mexico, and Columbia, recorded, broadcast on the BBC, and directed dance programs with Stars of New York City Ballet and the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company.
Scott is director of the London Jazz Orchestra, made up of many of London's top modern jazz composers and soloists, director of London's multi-stylistic choir Eclectic Voices, and is currently music director for two unique Kurt Weill productions for Opera de Lyon. He is also a popular conductor of youth orchestras, ensembles, and choirs.
As a jazz trombonist and singer Scott has performed with Billy Cobham, David Liebman, Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Brecker, Kenny Wheeler, Cennet Jönsson, Gloria Estefan, Liza Minnelli and many others.
As a composer Scott has written many works for orchestra, choir, band, and ensembles in both classical and jazz genres producing several suites for the London Jazz Orchestra, Stroman-Jönsson Project and Eclectic Voices. His work also includes numerous songs and pieces written for youth, amateur and school ensembles as well as music for children.
As an educator, Scott has been a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London since 1983 and since 1984 Head of their jazz program, renowned as one of the best in Europe. He was made a Fellow of the Guildhall School in 1988. He has won the BBC Big Band Contest six times and made four albums as director of the Guildhall Jazz Band, and teaches jazz composition, arranging and performance. He has led hundreds of courses and workshops in improvisation, performance, singing, world music, and conducting throughout the UK and Europe for education authorities, schools, colleges, universities, Arts Councils, choirs, and orchestras, was music director for the Globe Music Exchange and director of the African and Gospel Music Workshop at the Dartington International Summer School, and is artistic adviser to the Escuela de Musica Municipal in La Coruña, Spain. For the LPO he has directed numerous workshops, family and schools' concerts and the Orchestra in a Weekend programme mixing LPO and amateur performers. His work has been featured on radio and television.
He often combines his roles as conductor, performer, presenter and educator to create unique programmes, crossing boundaries between styles and cultures and between performance, composition, improvisation, education, and entertainment. He has directed and presented many combined performance and education series and programs on the music of Bach, Haydn, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Bartok, John Adams, Lutoslawski, Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, gospel music, African music, Brazilian music and that of many other traditions and composers.
His approach is both inspiring and engaging; regardless of the medium or level he conveys a genuine joy of music-making and creates a unity of purpose and focus that results in moving, meaningful and organic performances and a clearer understanding of the beauty of music.
