Mark Eager

Mark Eager (born 17 March 1962) is an English-born conductor and former BBC National Orchestra of Wales Principal Trombone. He lives in Salisbury, United Kingdom.

Biography

Eager grew up with a Salvation Army background where music was an integral part of his life. Throughout his youth, Eager studied the piano, trombone and violin. Eager left the Royal Academy of Music (1984), with Dip.RAM. He freelanced with most of the UK’s top orchestras until joining the BBC National Orchestra of Wales full time (1993–2006).^[1] There he became one of the world’s top soloists until 2006 when the Trombone Concerto 2004 (commissioned by the BBC) written for him by Alun Hoddinott caused serious muscle damage, ending his playing career.

1984 Awarded the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians of London

1998 Awarded Orchestral Recognition Award by the International Trombone Association, along with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Christian Lindberg.

2004 Awarded the Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM)^[2]

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

During his years with BBC NOW, Eager performed and premiered several concerti for trombone and orchestra including:

1995 world premiere recording: ‘Concerto for Trombone and Ten Winds’ by Jean Francaix. Conducted by Adrian Leaper and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

1997 'Trombone Concerto' by Michael Nyman. Conducted by Gregory Rose with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra.

1998 BBC Commission for Eager: 'The Spindle of Necessity'^[3]. by John Pickard. World Premiere St David’s Cathedral, Conducted by Martyn Brabbins and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

1999 'Sonata for Trombone and Piano' by Paul Hindemith with Christopher Williams Piano. Recorded and broadcast on BBC Choice.

2001 'Fratres' by Arvo Pärt. Performed as part of the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts. Conducted by Petri Sakari and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

2002 'Fantasma Cantos II' Toru Takemitsu. Conducted by Tadaaki Otaka and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

2004 BBC Commission for Eager 'Trombone Concerto' Alun Hoddinott.^[4]. World Premiere Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. Conducted by Grant Llewellyn and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Conducting career

After winning a scholarship to the Orkney Conducting course in 2005, Eager decided that conducting was to take a central role in his musical career.^[5] He is currently:

• Principal Conductor and Artistic Director - The Welsh Sinfonia.^[6][7] Appointed 2006.
• Principal Conductor - Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra. Appointed 2008.
• Conductor and Music Director - Hertfordshire Wind Sinfonia. Appointed 2005.

Other orchestras and touring

Eager regularly tours Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, France and Italy.

2010 Chief International Adjudicator at the McDonalds Sydney Eisteddfod.

2010 International Guest conductor and adjudicator at the World Projects (South Pacific) Festival in the Sydney Opera House.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Eager is a lecturer at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Appointed 1994.

Trinity College London

Eager is an advisor, clinician and senior music examiner for Trinity College London. Appointed 2005.

Magazine articles

2006 – Eager was the subject of a major feature in Classical Music Magazine.^[8]

2010 – The International Trombone Association produced a CD of four trombone concerti performed by Eager and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales including the world premieres of John Pickard ‘The Spindle of Necessity’ 1998, Alun Hoddinott ‘Concerto’ 2004 and the premier recording of Jean Françaix ‘Concerto for Trombone and Ten Winds’ 1995. Internationally distributed as a complimentary disc with the ITA magazine.

External links

• Mark Eager
• Royal Academy of Music
• BBC National Orchestra of Wales
• The Welsh Sinfonia
• Cardiff University School of Music
• Hertfordshire Wind Sinfonia
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• Trinity College London
• Orkney Conducting Course and St Magnus Festival
• Classical Music Magazine
• Maecenas Music
• International Trombone Association
• World Projects South Pacific
• McDonalds Sydney Eisteddfod
• Royal Harpist Claire Jones
• Pamela Thorby
• Rhian Samuel
• John Pickard
• Martyn Brabbins
• Adam Gorb

References

1. ^ http://www.britishtrombonesociety.org/about/biographies/mark-eager.html
2. ^ Unknown, "Biography". British Trombone Society, 2006. Retrieved 10.02.2011
3. ^ http://www.johnpickard.co.uk/page89.html The Spindle of Necessity programme notes
4. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2004/jun/02/classicalmusicandopera "Guardian Review: Hoddinott Trombone Concerto
5. ^ Huges, Glyn. Starting Over. Classical Music Magazine, 2006.
6. ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2009/09/26/sinfonia-small-but-perfectly-formed-to-fill-a-musical-gap-91466-24784489/
7. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8300781.stm
8. ^ Unknown, http://www.markeager.com/pages/history_02.html "Starting Over". Classical Music Magazine, 2006. Retrieved 10.02.2011

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Name	Eager, Mark
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Date of birth	17 March 1962
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