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David Stanhope : Represented Artist

Random Audio Sample: Three folksongs for pianola (solo other keyboard) by David Stanhope, from the CD Aeolian company


Photo of David Stanhope

Date of Birth: 19th December, 1952 (Sutton Coldfield, UK)

DAVID STANHOPE Biography 2021

David Stanhope is a freelance conductor, composer and pianist. Engagements with the Australian Opera, State Opera of South Australia and Opera Queensland have included the Australian stage première season of Berg's Lulu, the Sydney and Melbourne premières of Janacek's The Makropulos Secret, as well as seasons of Peter Grimes, Hansel and Gretel, Salome, Ariadne Auf Naxos, Eugene Onegin, La Traviata, Jenufa, Fidelio, Albert Herring, Turn Of The Screw, Dialogues of the Carmelites and The Pearl Fishers.

David is a guest conductor and recording artist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, including several CDs, concerts and engagements with all the major Australian orchestras, Sydney Alpha Ensemble, The Australian Ballet and the Australia Ensemble. He conducted Australian tours for the State Russian Ballet and the Kiev Ballet. David has conducted the soundtracksof Babe, Children Of The Revolution, Paradise Road and Passion. For the last-named film he recorded all solo piano repertoire and is the hand "double" for Richard Roxburgh.

David has written numerous compositions for all kinds of instrumental and vocal ensembles, but is especially known as a writer for concert band and brass. He won the ensemble section of the International Horn Society composition contest in 1979 with a horn octet. Wind band and brass band works of his have been competition test pieces both in Britain and Australia. His compositions include several items commissioned for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, including the arrangement of Advance Australia Fair, the 2006 Asian Games, the suite for string orchestra, String Songs, the double trumpet Battle Concerto written for Geoffrey Payne and James Morrison, and the three-act opera Dracula. Tall Poppies records have released CDs of his wind band music, 'Little Ripper!', and brass chamber music entitled 'Sydney Brass plays Stanhope'.

David played french horn for several years, mostly freelance. He was a member of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra before working in London. He moved to Sydney in 1979, becoming a foundation member of the Australia Ensemblein 1980. He also acted as guest principal horn with the Australian Opera and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. In 1984 he changed instrument to bass trombone, freelancing with the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. In 1986 he was offered the position of principal bass trombone with the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra, which he declined.

As a pianist, David has made recordings with EMI, and in 1980 undertook a concerto tour for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC Classics has released several CDs with him as solo pianist. Tall Poppies records have released 5 CDs - 'Virtuoso Transcriptions', 'David Stanhope plays', 'A Virtuoso Recital' 'TEN' and "TWENTY-FIVE" - the original Chopin studies and Godowsky's Studies on the Studies Opus 10 and Opus 25, also available on DVD with commentaries. Gramophone Magazine has described him as 'a towering athlete of the keyboard'.

In 2020, David completed a PhD at the University of Adelaide. The subject of the thesis explored the viability of orchestral sound libraries, demonstrating their worth in bringing unknown or forgotten orchestral music to life by producing 6 CDs of works by Australian or Australia-based composers.

'An absolutely outstanding musician' Sir Charles Mackerras


David Stanhope — current to February 2023

Selected Commissions

  Work Commission Details
Digital sheet music sample Petite Suite Française : symphonic wind band (2022) 'Promenade' originally commissioned in 2002 by Ballarat Grammar School Symphonic Band, Andrew Dale director.
Digital sheet music sample Petite Suite Française : duet for viola and piano (2020) Written for Marlena Stanhope
Digital sheet music sample Fantasy on an Original Fanfare : for symphonic wind orchestra (2016) Commissioned by the NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Stephen Williams Music Director
Digital sheet music sample Two Romantic Tributes : Solo Eb Alto Saxophone and Symphonic Wind Orchestra (2016) Commissioned by Darryl Pope.
1st Royal Fanfare : full orchestra (2006) Commissioned for Asian Games 2006
2nd Royal fanfare : full orchestra (2006) Commissioned for the Asian Games 2006