Mark Shanahan
Mark Shanahan is an Irish conductor[1] and conducting teacher.
Biography
[edit]Mark Shanahan was born in Manchester, where he attended Chetham's School. He later attended the University of London and studied conducting at the Royal Academy of Music with the Sir Henry Wood Scholarship.[2] While still studying at the Royal Academy of Music he won the first prize of the first NAYO Conducting Competition.
Mark Shanahan is active as an opera and orchestral conductor, and he has been associated with the English National Opera. Mark Shanahan has conducted operas in theatres such as La Fenice, Théâtre Graslin, Nationale Reisopera, Opera North, Grange Park Opera, Opera Ireland, English Touring Opera, Marseilles Opera and the Frankfurt Opera.[3]
Guest conducting engagements include concerts at halls such as the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre and Royal Albert Hall with orchestras including the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of Opera North, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria.[3] He is also Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and Artistic director of the Forest Philharmonic Orchestra.[3]
Shanahan was appointed Head of Music at the National Opera Studio in 2010. In 2021 he was dismissed after the organisation received complaints from 'young artists, coaches, staff members and external colleagues' about 'behaviour was that it was intimidating, bullying and possibly discriminatory'.[4][5][6][7] He later won an unfair dismissal case against his former employer although the presiding judge noted his 'blameworthy conduct' and that had he remained in employment there was a 40% chance that he would have been fairly dismissed. [4][8]
Shanahan is a guest professor of conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, guest conductor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a Visiting conducting Fellow at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.[9][10]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Musical Team". Hackney Singers. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
- ^ "Biography". markshanahan.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ a b c "Mark Shanahan – Conductor NSSO". National Schools Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Conductor accused of bullying wins unfair dismissal case - Arts Professional". 17 October 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Mr M Shanahan v National Opera Studio: 2305977/2021". GOV.UK. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ Reporters, Telegraph (1 September 2023). "Opera conductor accused of bullying claims he is victim of age discrimination". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ Editor, Jonathan Ames, Legal (1 September 2023). "'Bullying' conductor claims he was unfairly sacked". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "National Opera Studio conductor wins unfair dismissal case after bullying claims". The Stage. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "NSSO - 2000 course". National Schools Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Fellows and Honorary Members". Royal Northern College of Music.
External links
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