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Junior Trinity Staff Making Waves

Thu 28 October 2021

Conductors Darren Bloom and Leo Geyer work with top UK music industry players

2021 has been a busy year for staff in our Junior Trinity Department as two composition tutors take big steps in their professional careers by collaborating with iconic British institutions.

Darren Bloom, Lead Tutor for Composition and Musicianship at Junior Trinity, has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra for Six Degrees of Separation. The newly released album showcases new work by emerging composers as part of the orchestra’s Panufnik Scheme.

Recorded live in concert earlier this year, the record has already received a five-star review from BBC Music Magazine, praising the “total assurance” of the orchestra who provide a “welcome introduction to a terrific new wave of composing talent”.

Darren co-directs Junior Trinity’s Composers Ensemble alongside Leo Geyer, who has been selected by the BBC Open Music Programme on the pathway to become a presenter for Radio 3 and the BBC Proms 2022.

With more than 1,000 applicants for 30 places, the programme brings together new creatives and musicians across a range of genres, styles and backgrounds from around the UK in the hope of developing contemporary collaborations and representative, exciting ideas.

Speaking to his alma mater Oxford University, Leo said –

“I’m not planning on hanging up my composing and conducting hats, but I am aspiring to add ‘broadcaster’ to my portfolio career.”

Previously a student at Junior Trinity, Leo returned to teach on TL’s junior programme in 2015. Alongside his teaching, he also conducts for the English National Opera.

Find out more about our Junior Programmes.