Our Conductor

The Really Terrible Orchestra’s conductor, Michael von Graham, is currently on early release from the Hindemith Institute for the Harmonically Challenged. While he regularly works with other orchestras in Scotland and around the UK, they have collectively presented him with a gagging order not to mention them by name so to protect their illustrious reputations though association.

Originally a native of Glasgow’s West End, Michael attended finishing school in Edinburgh which succeeded in roughening him up a bit. After graduating Michael was set to have a successful career as a virtuosic concert page-turner. However, a mistimed cough during Sir András Schiff’s performance of 4’33” by John Cage got Michael blacklisted by nearly every major artist, opera house, and ensemble.

After some time in the wilderness, Michael was seduced by the Dark Arts, demonstrating ‘talent’ for artistic stick-waving. Michael was delighted to be adopted by the Really Terrible Orchestra as their conductor in Autumn 2020. Initially rehearsing the RTO over Zoom, it was an entire year before he heard them first play together in person. They might have played more ‘together’ when playing socially distanced and on a poor broadband connection, but Michael has stuck with them these past four years, encouraging their innovative approach to playing. He proves to have little control over their daring interpretations that are guaranteed to challenge any music lover’s mind, ears, and, frequently, patience.

Michael is a popular guest conductor, inviting himself to perform at concerts, festivals, bar mitzvas, and garden parties, using any opportunity to share his “infectious enthusiasm for all things music”. His travel exploits bouncing round the UK led a recent reviewer in the Wessex Recorder Gazette to herald him as “The Scarlet Pimpernel of Music… they seek him here; they seek him there. The orchestras seek him everywhere”.

Further information about his swashbuckling, sonic adventures can be found at www.mhgconductor.com