Biography
Michael Seal has established a reputation as one of the UK's most versatile conductors, his career going from strength to strength, conducting orchestras in the UK and internationally.
In March 2011, he was appointed Associate Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The appointment recognised his work as Assistant Conductor, the first in the CBSO's history, and the special relationship he has built with the Orchestra.
Michael has conducted the CBSO in many prestigious concerts, appearing with them at the Aldeburgh and Malvern Festivals, as well as venues in London, Manchester and the Midlands. He has given World and UK premieres of music by Richard Causton, Jonathan Girling and Bent Sorensen with the CBSO. Michael appears annually in the CBSO main season at Symphony Hall, Birmingham and has also stood in at very late notice for Sakari Oramo, Richard Hickox, Ilan Volkov and Vasilly Sinaisky to much critical acclaim.
His work with the CBSO has included many concerts of Film Music, most notably featuring music composed by Sir Anthony Hopkins. He has also led the CBSO in concert tours with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Sonu Nigam, the latter culminating in the release of the ground-breaking CD for Saregama, "Rafi Resurrected".
In the UK, Michael has appeared as guest conductor for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Internationally, he has conducted the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra Academia del Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon andOrquestra Filarmonica de Buenos Aires.
Michael has 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, and conducted them in Birmingham and the Three Choirs Festival.
He has been Principal Conductor of the Sinfonia of Birmingham since 2002, frequently performing concerti with CBSO members and leading them on highly successful tours of the Rhine and Mosel valleys, Tuscany, Holland and Poland. He has also been a regular guest conductor with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra since they gave him his conducting debut in 1996. Michael has also conducted the Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra since 2007, including tours of the Czech Republic in 2008 and Barcelona in 2010. He also regularly conducts at the Birmingham Conservatoire, most recently in a highly acclaimed performance of Britten's War Requiem.
His future work with the CBSO includes Schools and Family concerts, a concert of the music of R.D. Burman in 2012, a subscription concert in April 2012 and a CBSO YO Academy concert in July 2012. Next year also sees him make return visits to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Orquestra Academia del Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon.
Michael studied violin and composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire and has studied conducting with Jonathan Del Mar, Sakari Oramo, Andris Nelsons and Jorma Panula.
