John Rigby, conductor and musical director

John Rigby is one of the country's leading conductors, musical directors and musical supervisors.

As a conductor he is extremely active on the concert platform, working with orchestras like: the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia - and the Orchestras of both Welsh National and Opera North.

He also conducts the Classical Spectacular concerts for Raymond Gubbay and conducted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 70th birthday concert.

In musical theatre his long list of credits include: the UK Tour of The Producers with Peter Kay and Joe Pasquale, Cameron Mackintosh’s 25th Anniversary Tour of The Phantom of the Opera in both the UK and the USA, the arena world tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Tim Minchin and Melanie C. - and the 2019 London Palladium production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Sheridan Smith.

He has also supervised or directed the music for Les Misérables, Chess and Miss Saigon.

John talks to me about:

• How working with amateur dramatics societies was invaluable for his career and taught him many of the skills he still uses today.
• What musical inspired him to become a MD.
• How he got his first opportunity - by asking for it!
• Doing whatever you can, wherever you can to develop your conducting experience.
• The difference between a conductor, musical director and musical supervisor.
• How they cast the School of Rock - turning cellists into bass guitar players!
• What makes someone stand out at a Les Misérables audition and how musical theatre vocal styles have changed over the last 30 years.
• What makes a great show great?
• Why conducting Chess at the ENO was so special.
• What makes a stand-out audition performance.
• Which Les Mis character he thinks a prequel musical could be made about (hypothetical only)!
• The view from the other side of the room - his top tips for young performer auditions.
• And why 'we all have a Joseph story'...

JOHN'S LOCKDOWN CHALLENGE!

Actually, it's more of a lockdown opportunity...

To watch him conduct a performance and meet him backstage, please send him a message saying why you want to meet him - and why it should be you!

Send your email to: spotlightvideos2020@gmail.com

(Please note: recorded remotely because of lockdown restrictions, so sound quality varies!)

THANK YOU JOHN!