VIOLINIST, musicologist , writer and broadcaster Mark Seow is the new addition to York Early Music Festival’s team of artistic advisers.
He joins mezzo-soprano and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Helen Charlston, music writer and producer Lindsay Kemp, University of York Emeritus Professor of Music and Yorkshire Baroque Soloists & Choir director Peter Seymour and University of Huddersfield Emeritus Professor of Music and Rose Consort of Viols member John Bryan.
“I’m delighted to be joining this fabulous organisation as artistic adviser and working with this talented team in the beautiful city of York,” says Mark. “I’ve always been a huge admirer of the world-class York Early Music Festival, which continues to go from strength to strength, attracting the finest musicians to the city.”
Festival director Dr Delma Tomlin says: “We’re very pleased to welcome Mark to York Early Music Festival’s talented team, whose input is so important to the development and profile of this hugely popular annual celebration of early music.
“I’m sure that Mark’s wealth of experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable assets and I’m sure he will enjoy his time in this beautiful city.”
After studying Baroque violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Seow received his doctorate in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach from the University of Cambridge.
He has performed at the Wigmore Hall (London), St Thomas Church (Leipzig), Philharmonie (Berlin) and Palais Garnier (Paris), working with directors such as John Eliot Gardiner, Masaaki Suzuki, Rachel Podger, Harry Bicket and Trevor Pinnock. He has even performed with the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment in the Royal Albert Hall and a pub!
Seow has been a broadcaster for BBC Radio 3 since 2021, presenting more than 50 editions of The Early Music News. His documentary for BBC Radio 4, Eastern Classical, was shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society Award in 2024. He has worked for Decca Classics, Bach Network and Bärenreiter and has been a critic for Gramophone magazine since 2019.
He taught at the University of Cambridge, where in 2023 he was AHRC DTP Fellow in Music, and now holds a position in the University for Music and Performing Arts department of musicology in Vienna.
His recordings include Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Handel’s Messiah and he premiered the electronic-choral work Lark Ascending Remixed at London’s Southbank Centre.