Music Director: 2021 – date
Michael Bell was born in Neath. After graduating from Cardiff University, Michael formed Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra and has conducted the orchestra since CPO’s inaugural concert in June 1982.
Michael has conducted an enormous and wide-ranging repertoire with CPO, in more than 350 concerts, including symphonies by Mahler, Richard Strauss, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams, Elgar and Shostakovich, as well as major orchestral works by Stravinsky, Ravel and
Prokofiev, and many more besides.
Michael has always had a great enthusiasm for film music, and in 1994 introduced A Night at the Movies as an annual feature of CPO’s repertoire. The concert in December 2017, celebrating the music of John Williams, was performed to the highest audience figures at St David’s Hall for thirteen years.
As well as being Music director for Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra, Michael is now also the regular conductor of Brecknock Sinfonia.
In the 2018 New Year’s Honours Michael was awarded an MBE, and this was presented to him by HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in March 2018.