Alumni

Nicholas Collon

Conductor, Organ Scholar (2001-04)

A unique College, with a unique Choir, supported by an unrivalled thriving musical scene”

“Perhaps the biggest decision of my musical career to date was to apply for an Organ Scholarship to Clare. I remember going to hear the Choir in a service, and being hit by the most extraordinary wall of sound in Hail, Gladdening Light, and I just knew that this was where I wanted to be for three years. The Choir was such an enormous part of my musical life at Cambridge, and the most wonderful stepping stone to becoming a conductor. I had the privilege to conduct the Choir on many occasions, in services, on tour, in concert, and every time felt like an incredible event. I don’t think anything could prepare a musician for the fast-paced professional world in quite such an efficient, yet enjoyable way. It is a unique College, with a unique Choir, supported by an unrivalled thriving musical scene. Where else could you conduct the College orchestra and Choir in everything from Shostakovich 5 to Carmina Burana, to such a level of proficiency?”

Nicholas Collon is establishing an enviable reputation as a commanding and inspirational interpreter in an exceptionally wide range of music. As founder and Principal Conductor of Aurora Orchestra, he has promoted imaginative programming that integrates challenging repertoire from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with masterworks of the Classical and Romantic eras. Nicholas and Aurora were winners of Best Ensemble at the 2011 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards. In addition to his work with Aurora, he is Assistant Conductor to Vladimir Jurowski at the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Aurora Orchestra’s residencies at Kings Place have included Mozart Unwrapped, featuring soloists such as Rosemary Joshua, and Brahms Unwrapped in 2012. Also at Kings Place, a concert featuring the works of Nico Muhly launched a CD on Decca, Seeing is Believing, to critical acclaim, which includes the composer’s Electric Violin Concerto. In addition, Aurora has made appearances at the new Britten Studio at Aldeburgh, the Cambridge and City of London festivals, the Snape Proms and the Sounds New Festival.

Collon has collaborated with the London Sinfonietta and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted a London Symphony Orchestra UBS Soundscapes Pioneers première, concerts with the Britten Sinfonia, Manchester Camerata, Sinfonia ViVA and a debut with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Ensemble 10/10. He has also appeared at the Bregenz Festival with Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg in a programme of works by Judith Weir and he has recorded works for broadcast with the BBC Symphony and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras. He has conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, the Northern Sinfonia, the Münchener Kammerorchester at the Munich Biennale, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.