Bjorn Bantock

Bjorn Bantock is a highly experienced professional conductor with over 30 years of international conducting expertise. Trained as a solo cellist under full scholarships at the Conservatoire of Music Stellenbosch, Royal Northern College of Music, and Royal Conservatory of Music in Amsterdam, he further studied conducting for five years at the Royal Academy of Music under Colin Metters. Recipient of prestigious awards including first prize in the Sir John Barbirolli competition and the RNCM Contemporary Music Performance Prize, Bjorn holds principal conducting positions with ensembles such as the Irish Memory Orchestra, Bedford Symphony Orchestra, Peterborough Philharmonic Orchestra, Film Score Spectacular at Watford Colosseum, International String Orchestra Festival in Malta, Svanker Music Festival in Denmark, and Alpine Summer School Orchestra in Geneva. He has guest conducted orchestras including the Cape Town Philharmonic, Cape Town Opera, Moscow Symphony, Northern Sinfonia, and Philharmonisches Kammerorkester Berlin, with performances across Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and the UK, including television, festival, and radio broadcasts.

Passionate about education and mentorship, Bjorn regularly delivers masterclasses and adjudicates at institutions including the Royal College of Music London, Royal Conservatoire Copenhagen, Stavanger Conservatoire, European String Teachers Association, National Children’s Orchestra, and universities in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. He heads conducting courses for the National Schools Symphony Orchestra and has led the Open Strings Festival in Denmark for over 18 years, while founding the London Chamber Strings and serving as Vice Chairman of the Sir Granville Bantock Society. Currently Director of Music for the University of East Anglia Bjorn is dedicated to nurturing musical talent, enhancing performance standards, and inspiring orchestral musicians through enthusiastic, professional leadership.