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President
The Worshipful
Mayor of Wandsworth
Vice-Presidents
John Bowis Esq. OBE
Ann Bradnack
Chairperson
Angela Wilson
Hon. Secretary
Ed Waters
Hon. Treasurer
Simon Edelsten
THE BOARD/COMMITTEE
Rupert Bond
Guest Conductor
Rupert Bond was born in London. He gained his Bachelor of Music at Goldsmiths' College, London University and then successfully auditioned for the Conductor’s Course at the Royal Academy of Music, where he also studied the Double Bass. His most formative musical experience was as a student of George Hurst. He also holds a Master of Music degree Composition from Surrey University. In 1999 he was appointed an Associate of the RAM for “Services to Music”.
He began his career as a freelance conductor and bass player, but a change of direction led to him being appointed as Director of Music at James Allen's Girls' School in London – a post that was once held by Gustav Holst. He was able to continue his conducting vocation and founded the professional orchestra Docklands Sinfonietta. He also developed his skills as a composer and has written over 40 compositions.
In 2003 he returned to full-time conducting, spending time in New Zealand (2006-7) and also in South West England (2008-13), but then returned to South East England and now lives in Kent. Recent projects have included producing a CD with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra of music by the New Zealand composer Eric Biddington.
Rupert Bond regularly conducts many orchestras, including the Folkestone Symphony, European Doctors’ Orchestra, Kingston 3AO, Sonnet Wind Orchestra, Dartford Symphony, Suffolk Sinfonia, the Southwark Sinfonietta and the Surrey Philharmonic. This season he is delighted to be working with the Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Reform. He believes passionately in Gustav Mahler’s dictum, “in each performance a work has to be re-born”.
Mario Basilisco
Leader
Mario was born in London and began his musical studies at the age of seven with his father on the flamenco guitar. In 1991 he was a finalist in the BBC Young Guitarist of the Year.
After receiving a scholarship to study at the Centre for Young Musicians, he went on to Trinity College of Music where he completed his BMus(Hons) Degree. Further scholarships then enabled him to gain a postgraduate diploma as a student of Michael Bochmann.
Mario studied conducting with Peter Stark and was coached and participated in master classes with members of the Amadeus, Chillingirian, Vellinger and Wihan string quartets as well as the pianists Yonty Solomon and Ian Burnside.
In 2002 he was a finalist in the Vera Kantrovich Solo Bach Competition and in 2003 won the first prize in both the Barbirolli String Quartet Competition and the Cavatina Trust Chamber Music Competition.
Mario has given solo and chamber music recitals throughout London and the UK. He freelances and guest leads symphony and chamber orchestras and is also the leader of The St Barts Chamber Orchestra in Streatham.
He also teaches the violin and coaches orchestras for the Lambeth
Music Service.