Kenneth Woods

American conductor and cellist Kenneth Woods studied conducting at the University of Cincinnati - College-Conservatory of Music, and at various summer institutes and workshops. His conducting teachers include Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Jorma Panula, Murry Sidlin, Robert Spano and Gerhard Samuel.

In 2009 he became principal guest conductor of the Orchestra of the Swan in England, making a series of recordings and first performances.

In 2013 he became principal conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra, and in 2016 became the orchestra's artistic director. He has expanded the orchestra's role in commissioning, recording and giving first performances of new work, and he introduced the orchestra's John McCabe Composer in Association.

In the USA he has been music director of the Oregon East Symphony since 2000, and in 2015 he became artistic director of Colorado MahlerFest.

Woods is also active as a cellist and as a broadcaster and writer about music.

Further information: kennethwoods.net

A selection of articles about Kenneth Woods

Spotlight. Originality and Freshness - Geoff Pearce is impressed by Steve Elcock's Violin Concerto and Eighth Symphony. '... well-balanced and quite beautiful ...'

Profile. A Spiritual Journey - Roderic Dunnett takes an extended look at the career of English composer Ian Venables, and listens to a recent performance of the orchestral version of his Requiem

Classical music news. Dutch National Ballet - Wins for young dancers, plus an online concert of music by Steven R Gerber

CD Spotlight. Criminal Exploits - Geoff Pearce listens to Adrian Williams' chamber concerto 'Portraits of Ned Kelly'. 'The playing is very impressive and delivers a compelling performance.'

Classical music news. April 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our April 2022 newsletter

Ensemble. Original and Impressive - Geoff Pearce listens to Adrian Williams' Symphony No 1

Classical music news. November 2021 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our November 2021 newsletter

Ensemble. A Year Late - Keith Bramich pays a visit to the Three Choirs Festival

Ensemble. Time to Become More Widely Known - Keith Bramich listens to orchestral and chamber music by Adrian Williams

Classical music news. Hang in there together - Classical Music Daily's March 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast

Classical music news - Steven Gerber - The English Symphony Orchestra presents a Steven Gerber portrait concert

Ensemble. Melody and Mayhem - The English Symphony Orchestra's New Year's Eve offering, heard by Alice McVeigh

CD Spotlight. A British Tint - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to two recent orchestral works by British composer Philip Sawyers. 'The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kenneth Woods, gives masterly performances of the two pieces.'

Classical music news. The Elgar Festival - An annual celebration of the great British composer takes place in Worcester and Malvern, UK, during May

Classical music news. Adrian Williams - The English Symphony Orchestra announces Adrian Williams as its John McCabe Composer-in-Association for 2019/20

Ensemble. Venus Unwrapped - Keith Bramich is impressed by Noriko Ogawa, Kenneth Woods and the strings of the English Symphony Orchestra

CD Spotlight. A Very Joyous Disc - Brahms arranged by Kenneth Woods impresses Alice McVeigh. '... this is an excellent performance representing a useful, joyful and even inspired addition to the orchestral repertoire.'

CD Spotlight. View from the Celli - Philip Sawyers' Symphony No 3 impresses Alice McVeigh. 'Pummelled strings rise turbulent beneath great brass chords: the entire fisting orchestra soars, confident, triumphant and united at last.'

Ensemble. A view from the pit - John Joubert's 'Jane Eyre', praised by Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. Fresh and Original - John Joubert's opera 'Jane Eyre', experienced by Roderic Dunnett

Ask Alice - On Deborah Pritchard's 'Wall of Water', with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

CD Spotlight. Great Accomplishment - Music by Philip Sawyers, appreciated by Robert Anderson. '... a very cogent argument.'

CD Spotlight. Neo-classical Verve - Music by victims of the Nazi death camps, heard by Howard Smith. 'Worth its weight and then some, in Euros.'