Michael Francis (born 1976) is a British

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Biology and medicine * Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear * Conduction aphasia, a language disorder Mathematics * Conductor (ring theory) * Conductor of an abelian variety * Cond ...

Biography

Francis learnt the double bass as a youth. He was a member of the

European Union Youth Orchestra The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) is a youth orchestra with members drawn from the 27 members states of the European Union. Since its foundation in 1976, it has connected music colleges and the professional music world for generations ...

, and graduated in 1997 from the

Cardiff University Cardiff University () is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed Unive ...

School of Music A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger in ...

. He played the

double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

for the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

before he began conducting. His first public performance as conductor of a major orchestra occurred in January 2007 when he deputised for Valery Gergiev. In Europe, Francis became chief conductor and artistic adviser to the

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra The Norrköping Symphony Orchestra () is a Swedish professional symphony orchestra. It is based at the concert hall Louis de Geer konsert & kongress, De Geerhallen, in the center of Norrköping. History The orchestra was founded in 1912, an ...

in 2012, and held the post through 2016. In December 2016, Francis first guest-conducted the

Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz The Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz (German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate) is a German orchestra based in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in Ludwigshafen am Rhein. The orchestra performs concerts principally a ...

. In December 2018, the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz announced the appointment of Francis as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2019-2020 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. In March 2023, the orchestra announced a five-year extension of Francis' contract as chief conductor with the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz. In the USA, Francis became music director of

The Florida Orchestra The Florida Orchestra is an American orchestra based in the tri-city area of Tampa, Clearwater, Florida, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. It was founded as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony upon the 1968 merger of th ...

as of the 2015-2016 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. He received a contract extension to remain with The Florida Orchestra through 2025. In February 2024, it was announced that Francis received an additional contract extension and would remain with The Florida Orchestra through at least the 2029-2030 season. He became music director of the Mainly Mozart Festival (

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, California, USA) in the summer of 2015. Francis lives in Florida with his American wife Cindy and their daughter.

References

External links

Official homepage of Michael Francis

KD Schmid agency profile of Michael Francis

Interview bei Classicpoint.net

Feenotes.com Profile
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Michael British male conductors (music) Living people British male double-bassists Alumni of Cardiff University 1976 births Welsh conductors (music) London Symphony Orchestra players 21st-century British conductors (music) 21st-century British double-bassists