MUSICAL DIRECTOR RUPERT D'CRUZE

Rupert D Cruze Rupert D’Cruze has been making music with the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra since 2007 and has been musical director of the orchestra since September 2008. A musician since the age of six, Rupert developed from chorister in the Temple Church Choir, London to young organist and choirmaster in London. As a student he was Principal Trombone in both the London Schools Symphony Orchestra and the European Community Youth Orchestra.

Rupert’s many achievements in conducting include receiving the London Royal Academy of Music’s Philharmonia Conducting Prize in 1987, and being a finalist and prizewinner in the Tokyo International Conducting Competition in 1991 and the Hungarian International Conducting Competition in 1992.

Rupert has worked with many orchestras including the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra and the South German Radio Symphony Orchestra, and has also filled the positions of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, and Musical Director of the Portsmouth Festival Choir. Key influences in his musical development have been conducting professors at the Royal Academy of Music,Sir Colin Davis and George Hurst.

His earliest mentor was Sir George Thalben-Ball, organist and choirmaster at the Temple Church, London. Rupert has a passion for the training of young musicians. He has been a regular guest conductor of the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy in Miskolc, Hungary and has conducted performances of the Royal Academy of Music Opera. He has also been conductor of a number of youth orchestras including the Reading Youth Orchestra and the Somerset Youth Orchestra. Rupert also worked for many years as an examiner to the Guildhall School of Music.

As well as his position as Musical Director to TWSO, Rupert is a busy guest conductor in New Zealand. He works with the Hamilton Civic Choir, Opus Chamber Orchestra, St Matthews Chamber Orchestra, Manukau City Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Choral Society.