« BACK

Anthony Spain, Music Director

Anthony Spain was born in London, England in 1962. He has been music director of the Bainbridge Chorale since 1999, and music director of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra in Seattle, Washington since 1987. Melinda Bargreen of the Seattle Times described Dr. Spain's performances as "…strong, committed impassioned performances." Since arriving at the Bainbridge Chorale, Dr. Spain has embarked on a program to present to the community of Bainbridge, choral music across the spectrum with an emphasis on significant large scale works. The success of these programs on Bainbridge led to several performances in Benaroya Hall in Seattle.  

Dr. Spain has recorded for Albany Records and Koch International of New York. These CD's were praised highly by several national and international sources including American Record Guide "…sound is beautiful," and Fanfare "This is a first class production all around." Dr. Spain's innovative programming of local northwest American composers first came to national attention in 1996 with a mention in a front page Wall Street Journal article regarding up and coming arts groups.

Spain has guest conducted several choirs and orchestras in America and Europe, including the choir of L'UNESCO (the cultural branch of the United Nations) in Paris, France. Dr. Spain is also a regular guest conductor every summer at the Masterworks Festival held in the Chicago area and recently returned from a sabbatical in London and Paris where he assisted John Nelson at the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. As a vocal performer, he has performed with many groups in America and England, has sung in studio recording projects, and has a Grammy nomination in vocal jazz.

Spain is an active educator having taught at Seattle Central Community College (voted "college of the year" by Time Magazine in 2001) since 1987. He is an active adjudicator and clinician and has been a guest speaker at conferences such as the Conductor's Guild National Conference, and the American Symphony Orchestra League’s National Convention. Spain graduated in 1990 with a Doctoral Degree in Music from the University of Washington where he studied with noted choral conductor Abraham Kaplan and has studied abroad in Paris, France with conductor and teacher Leon Barzin.

Top