For Paul MacAlindin conducting, at its most fundamental level means the art of bringing people together with passion, and leading them beyond expectations. Back in the 1990s Paul gave countless premieres of young composers’ work, both in orchestral concerts with Beethoven and Tchaikowsky, and with top ensembles such as Psappha in Manchester, live and on BBC Radio 3. Assisting Sir Peter Maxwell Davies at that time brought him in contact with great British works such as Maxwell Davies’ symphonies 5, 6 and 7 with the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic. Whether with repertoire or premieres, Paul learnt that performance could not be meaningfully taken to the edge without a profound understanding of composition.

Paul has worked together with the British Council on groundbreaking projects since 2001, such as The Turn of The Tide with the Croatian Radio Orchestra and 500 schoolchildren, which transformed music education in Zabreb. Conducting the Armenian Philharmonic, a cultural jewel, alllowed him to discover wonderful talents such as the Little Singers of Armenia and promote Armenian composers abroad.

On first learning of the proposed National Youth Orchestra of Iraq in 2008, he immediately phoned British Council, without whom the orchestra would not be possible. Since musically directing their first summer course in 2009, Paul and the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq have performed Iraqi and western music live and across Arab TV. As a peace process bringing diverse, talented young players together, supplying teachers and resources, giving concerts and putting hope and faith in their potential, they have led Paul beyond the imaginable.

Coaching and accompanying singers is also a joy, particularly when it leads to performances such as with baritone Mauricio Virgens in the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, Paul Carey Jones, Sean Clayton and Andrew Slater in Montepulciano or Paul Whelan and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Wellington. As a Cologne-based conductor, childrens’ concerts with the Düsseldorf Philharmonic keep Paul close to home and the future lovers of classical music.