John Quirk
John Quirk
Among my many professional theatre credits are Musical Director for the musicals "Annie", "Gypsy", "The Canterbury Tales" and "Grease" (national tour): twenty-two No.1 Pantomimes working with Roy Barraclough, Neil Morrissey, Joe Pasquale, Cheryl Baker, Little and Large, Ruth Madoc, John Inman, Bobby Davro, Linda Lusardi, Michaela Strachan, Melinda Messenger, Jonathan Morris, and many other well known entertainers: and many "one-off" concerts, such as the Grand Theatre Swansea's 100th anniversary concert, which was broadcast by S4C.
I have also conducted on many occasions for television, working with such international stars as Rebecca Evans, Eirian James, Jason Howard, Vanessa Mae, Rita Cullis, Sian Phillips, Mary Lloyd-Davies, Gwyn Hughes-Jones, Dame Gwyneth Jones, and the theatre stars John Owen-Jones, Ria Jones and Connie Fisher.
Experience as Musical Director for television includes three series of "O’r Grand" for S4C, a series of "Holi Hwn a Holi Llall", and two series with Shan Cothi, involving studio sessions in London and Cardiff, arranging for and conducting ensembles ranging from classical orchestras to "Big Band". I have also acted as Musical Supervisor and Assistant Musical Director (specifically in charge of all orchestral arrangements and subsidiary conducting) for three series of "Codi'r To". I acted as music supervisor for B.B.C. Wales on the production of "Peter Karrie Unmasked", working not only with Peter Karrie but arranging music for such internationally renowned studio guests as Sir Harry Secombe, Miss Joan Collins, and Larry Adler.
In 1999 I conducted the BBC Welsh NOW Orchestra in a millennium concert for Radio Cymru. I also wrote all the orchestral arrangements for the concert, the CD of which is currently available from Sain records. I have also acted as M.D. for the BBC Wales series, "Money in the Bank", a music and chat show featuring such guests as Status Quo, David Essex, Toyah Willcox and Leo Sayer.
In September 2000 I was invited to conduct the B.B.C, NOW Orchestra in a concert of Welsh popular music; this became the first of a series of 9 CDs released by the BBC. Also in September of that year I wrote the arrangements and conducted the rock ensemble for Bryn Terfel's "Dragon's Fire" concert, which was broadcast by S4C. In November 2000 I was invited to conduct the Danish Radio Orchestra in a concert in Copenhagen, and I have worked with Larry Adler and Cerys Matthews on a televised duet. This was also performed in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s 80th birthday celebrations. In July 2001 I was invited to be the inaugural Musical Director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Wales.
In the medium of television I have been commissioned to write several hundred transcriptions and arrangements ranging from small vocal ensembles to work for symphony orchestra, and I have written many signature tunes such as "Mor O Gan", "Datganiad", “Jones Jones Jones” and "Holi Hwn a Holi Llall". I have also written all the music and conducted a large orchestra for the BAFTA Cymru Awards, and composed and produced the music for an S4C light drama series, "Licyris Olsorts". I have created six albums of Welsh music with the BBC NOW Orchestra, and I have been Musical Director for many varied television projects, featuring guests such as Bryn Terfel and Grammy award winner Rebecca Evans.
In 2007 I was MD for a Welsh light entertainment series, "Noson Chis a Meinir", scoring all the music and conducting the ensemble. I have also been working on a television film about Ryan and Ronnie; this involved scoring and conducting all the music content, recording at Angel studios London, (and playing the part of Benny the MD in the film!). I have often been seen working on music for summer concerts at the National Eisteddfod, featuring artists such as Cerys Matthews, Shan Cothi, Catrin Finch, Rhydian, Connie Fisher, and Mark Evans.
In 2009 I wrote all the arrangements and conducted the orchestra for John Owen Jones’ eponymous album, which features Michael Ball, Catrin Finch, and Bryn Terfel as guests. Also in that year I was M.D. for Ruth Jones’ Christmas Cracker BBC Wales Television spectacular. I have also been fortunate enough to work with Only Men Aloud! on their tour music, and undertaken European tours with the Westenders. Other conducting experience includes the Danish Radio Orchestra, BBC NOW, the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales, and the Welsh Media Orchestra.
Since then I have conducted many times for television, most notably the recent (2011) “Rhydian” series for S4C, and I have completed John Owen Jones’ second album, released March 2012. There are concert appearances this year with Rhydian, John Owen Jones, Shan Cothi, Peter Karrie, and tours of Europe with the Westenders.
Also in 2011 I wrote the orchestrations and conducted the orchestra for “The Three Welsh Tenors” first album, which was played extensively on Classic FM.
Among a wide range of my compositions there is a fifty minute dance suite for the West Glamorgan Youth Dance Company tour of Denmark, "Kubla Khan", based on the Coleridge poem; a version for orchestra, "Prelude Fugue and Chorale" from "Kubla Khan", toured the Principality with the Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra.
I have composed many items for the theatre, such as music for "The Railway Children", "The Canterbury Tales", "The Tempest", "Romeo and Juliet" for the National Theatre of Wales, and many other occasional pieces. Music for a play "On the Tongue of a Bird" has been published, and I have the great pleasure of being a Sibelius composer; some of my work appears on their web-site.
This year I have had the great pleasure of conducting two ballets for Ballet Cymru. I have also been busy writing arrangements and conducting for Rhydian, Sophie Evans, Mark Llewellyn Evans, John Owen Jones, and many other artists. I have also had the great pleasure of arranging and conducting John Owen Jones’ second album, ‘Unmasked”.
For many years I conducted the University Chorale at the University of Swansea, undertaking concerts at the Brangwyn Hall and at the Taliesin Arts Centre. Currently I am a part-time lecturer at Trinity St. David’s University, Carmarthen, where I teach singing for actors. I also had the great pleasure of directing a production of “Oh What a Lovely War!” for the college in 2011, then “The Servants’ Pirates” in 2012.
Currently I am Sophie Evans’ MD, Rhydian Roberts’ MD, and I have the great pleasure of being on tour with both these artists. I also act as John Owen Jones’ Welsh MD, and I am looking forward to a number of concerts with him and Natasha Marsh later in 2013.
I have also been a member of staff for the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre for 25 years, writing and devising music for many productions.