Andrew Penny MBE conducted our orchestra for 40 years until May 2022 when he stepped down from the role. We are now in the process of appointing his successor. Andrew’s shoes are not easy to fill, but we have had a large number of applicants due to the excellent reputation we have developed under Andrew’s leadership. His complete cycle of the nine symphonies by Arnold was produced in time for the composer’s 80th birthday in October 2001 and became the BBC Music Magazine’s top recommendation. His recordings of eleven Shakespearian Overtures by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco were released in two volumes on Naxos in 2010. Many world-famous soloists and conductors have been associated with the HPO including: Janet Baker, Yehudi Menhuin, Vladimir Ashkenazy and more recently, Martin Roscoe, Peter Donohoe (winner of the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition), Tasmin Little, Nigel Kennedy, David Lloyd-Jones (founder of Opera North), Isabelle Faust, and Peter Stark (featured in the BBC TV series 'Maestro'), David Pyatt (horn), Emma Johnson (clarinet), and Samuel West (narrator for Walton's Henry V). We have a track record of offering a platform to emerging talent and our concerts regularly feature prize-winning soloists from competitions such as BBC Young Musician of the Year and the Leeds International Piano Competition, as well as those selected by prestigious schemes such as the Young Concert Artists Trust and the BBC New Generation Artists. These have included the pianists Chiao-Ying Chang, Sarah Beth Briggs and Ashley Wass, the guitarist Jonathan Leathwood, Lucy Wakeford (harpist), Christine Rice (mezzo soprano), and violinists Matthew Trusler, and Jana Novakova; all of whom have gone on to distinguished international careers.The Team
The Conductor
In addition to his work with the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew made over thirty recordings for the Naxos and Marco Polo labels, appearing on a further twenty compilations. Much of the repertoire is of British Music and includes symphonies by Sir Malcolm Arnold and Havergal Brian, film music by Vaughan Williams and Walton, theatre music by Sullivan and Holbrooke and light music by Coates and Arnold.
http://www.naxos.com/person/Andrew_Penny_31809/31809.htm
He was awarded the MBE for services to music in 2014.Something old, something new, something challenging
New talent
In May 2014 international prize-winning pianist Alessandro Taverna received a standing ovation for his performance of the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 with the Hull Philharmonic.
Simon Chalk
Musical Director
Although he spent the first 20 years of his career as a violinist, in 2011 Simon made the switch from bow to baton. Simon has since conducted orchestras in over 70 countries, across a plethora of musical genres, to tens of thousands of concert goers and has appeared at many of the world’s most iconic venues. He was appointment Chief Conductor of the Slovak Sinfonietta in 2015 and continues as a Guest Conductor for them. He has also served as Guest Conductor for the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra every season since 2014. Simon has made numerous recordings, including two live DVDs with IL Divo, and has been a prize-winner in a number of conducting competitions - most notably in Romania where, in June 2022, he was awarded as winner of the inaugural 'Orchestra's Conductor' Competition in association with Filarmonica Brasov. Simon continues to be in great demand throughout Europe and beyond and has an active schedule in the UK as the Conductor and Artistic Director of Southern Sinfonia. He was appointed as Musical Director of the Hull Philharmonic in 2024 and is looking forward to delivering some exciting future projects and programmes.
Dr Elaine King
Assistant Musical Director
Elaine moved to the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2000 when she became a Lecturer in Music at the University of Hull. She is currently Reader in Music and pursues both research and performance activities as part of her work, publishing widely on aspects of ensemble playing, music psychology and education. As a performer, she studied the cello at the Royal Academy of Music and holds a licentiate in piano from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has performed widely in chamber and orchestral ensembles in the region. She conducts the University Camerata and has directed various choral and orchestral ensembles over the past several years, including the Hessle Sinfonia. She has been involved with the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra since 2000: she was a member of the cello section until 2007, then, following a maternity break, was thrilled to take on the role of Rehearsal Conductor in 2022 and Assistant Musical Director in 2023.