Kevin Hill
Kevin Hill was born in 1962 and studied viola and piano at the Royal College of Music. In 1984 he joined the Hallé Orchestra, playing viola for a year. Since then he has appeared regularly with many orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra and has appeared as guest-principal viola with the Orchestra of St. John's Smith Square and for a number of years with the orchestra of London City Ballet.
He completed a post-graduate course at the Royal College of Music in 1988, having been awarded the RCM Conducting Scholarship, studying with Norman Del Mar. He has conducted the English Northern Philharmonia, Young Musicians' Symphony Orchestra (YMSO), Merseyside Youth Orchestra, also the Edinburgh University Chamber Orchestra on a concert tour of the Republic of Ireland. From 1984 he regularly conducted rehearsals for the YMSO and acted as off-stage conductor for performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 and Strauss' Alpine Symphony, at London's Royal Festival Hall. He prepared YMSO for concerts and tours conducted by Serge Baudo and Lord Menuhin. "It (YMSO) played well. Credit for this must go to Kevin Hill, whose clear and restrained direction was admirable" The Kentish Times. "Mr. Hill's tempi were well chosen, the music was kept alive and such moments as the full entry at 'Gladness and Joy Everlasting' (Brahms' Requiem) were truly memorable" Beckenham and Penge Advertiser. Kevin Hill was selected to participate in the Leeds Conductors' Competition (1986), the European Conductors' Seminar (1987) and made his debut on BBC Radio 3 conducting the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1988 he was a finalist in the British Reserve Conducting Competition and made his conducting debut at St. John's Smith Square.
Among the premiere performances conducted by Kevin Hill are two neglected works by Frederick Delius – Five Settings from Tennyson's "Maud" for tenor and orchestra (world premiere) and Poem of Life and Love (first public performance). "Hill's credentials as one-time pupil of Norman Del Mar became inspiringly manifest" - The Delius Society Journal.
Kevin Hill's compositions are published by Animus Music Publishing, Comus Edition, Emerson Edition, Goodmusic Publishing and Prima Vista Musikk. Of Reflections for alto saxophone and piano, Music Teacher said "It is rewarding to play...there is a real individuality about this piece...worth buying". His Four Pieces for organ won similar enthusiasm from the press – "It is pleasing to recognise old-fashioned craftsmanship – more from this pen, please" - Organists' Review and "The composer's wide musical experience is reflected in the varied nature of the music, and the skill with which it is written for the organ" - Church Music Quarterly. Momentum for 8 cellos was given its first performance by members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kevin Hill was conductor for all of Haverhill Sinfonia's 90 concerts since its inaugural performance in November 1986. In June 2000 he was awarded the MBE, for services to Music, in The Queen's Birthday Honours.