Scott Stroman has been associated with the London Philharmonic Orchestra since 1998, directing the Renga ensemble, conducting the Future First and Hit Squad ensembles, and directing the LPO’s Orchestra in a Weekend project and LPO Training Academy for orchestra members. He has conducted the LPO, the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (now replaced by Future First), and has had many compositions and arrangements performed by the LPO’s various ensembles and the orchestra. He has also directed and presented concert for families and schools, and given pre-concert talks.

Scott Stroman’s work with the Orchestra was featured in the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2006-2007 Yearbook. You can read the article here.

Renga is the LPO groundbreaking ensemble for collaboration with musicians from outside the classical mainstream. Over the past four years they have worked with jazz musicians Kenny Wheeler, Rufus Reid, Tim Garland, Cennet Jonsson, Nikki Iles, Huw Warren, and many others. They have created folk-music projects with singer June Tabor and fiddler/guitarist/singer Chris Wood, projects in Indian music with Ramesh Shotham, Madras Special, Ronan Guilfoyle and Pete Lockett, and worked with Brazilian percussionist Bosco D’Oliveira and David Dolan, a specialist in the tradition of improvisation in Western classical music. Scott previously had been conductor and chief arranger for a project featuring African singer Youssou N’Dour and jazz pianist Herbie Hancock with the LPO, leading to the creation of the ensemble.

Most recently Renga collaborated with members of the London Jazz Orchestra to give the first performance in Britain of the complete original music from Miles Davis classic album Birth of the Cool (read review).

The Hit Squad is the LPO’s touring chamber ensemble, performing in non-traditional venues such as churches, hospitals, offices, and factories. Primarily consisting of orchestral principal players, its interesting programmes have included suites and concertos by Bach and other composers of the Baroque, symphonies by Haydn, 20th century chamber works, and new pieces. The ensemble often features solo performances illustrated by Scott Stroman and the soloists. You can read an article about/ review of Scott Stroman and the Hit Squad here.

Future First is the LPO’s programme for outstanding young players about to enter the orchestral profession. It provides mentoring with members of the LPO, side-by-side experience in the orchestra, opportunities to take part in education and training programmes, and experience performing as an ensemble conducted by Scott Stroman and others. Recent performances have included Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony (trained by Stroman and played without a conductor), John Adams Chamber Symphony, Stroman’s Burnt Norton, and works by Debussy, Frank Martin, Wagner, and Mark Anthony Turnage. You can read a review of a performance here.

To read more about the London Philharmonic Orchestra, visit their website here.