Norman Beedie

A prize-winner at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and winner of the BBC Scottish Young Musician Competition, Dundee-born Norman Beedie was awarded a Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship to study in Italy with pianist Guido Agosti and pianist/conductor Carlo Zecchi. He subsequently studied in France with the legendary pedagogue of the twentieth century, Nadia Boulanger becoming Assistant Director. He also worked with the famous soprano Irène Joachim, grand-daughter of Joseph Joachim. Through his performances, Norman continues musical traditions that have roots in the teachings and performances of Fauré, Debussy, Busoni, Schnabel, Désormière and, through his studies with the late James Gibb in London, to Moiseiwitsch and Leschetitzky.

He has performed throughout the United Kingdom, in France and Italy, the Far East and Ukraine in solo recitals and as concerto soloist, in chamber music and as accompanist. He has performed with many British orchestras including, as soloist, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and he has conducted Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Classic East Symphony Orchestra and the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra. He conducted the first Ukrainian performance of Rubbra’s Violin Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in Kiev with Dmytro Tkachenko as soloist. Norman was Musical Director of the Dundee Choral Union, one of Scotland’s oldest and most prestigious choirs, from 2008 until 2011. He is a Lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow.currently leading innovative courses in Classical Improvisation as well as teaching Piano and Conducting.

His concerto repertoire centres on the concerti of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. Oratorio repertoire consists of the major choral works from Bach to Rutter. He conducted the BBC Singers in the first UK performance of Dimitri-Mimis Plessas’ Oratorio St Paul for the 21st International Congress of Byzantine Studies in London in 2006. His symphonic repertoire consist of the major works from Haydn and Mozart and includes Lyatoshinsky Second Symphony.

Geelvinck Fortepiano Festival 2014:

Norman Beedie will be on stage on 17 October, with ‘Captivating Kaleidoscope: all early Keyboards on Stage!’