Anthony Bradbury attended King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, where he played clarinet, piano and percussion with numerous orchestras, ensembles and wind bands. He continued his education at Brasenose College, Oxford University, studying Orchestration and Electro-Acoustic music with the composer Robert Sherlaw Johnson, and graduated with an MA in Music. Whilst at Oxford, Anthony was awarded a scholarship to conduct Brasenose chapel choir.

In addition to his role with BFCS, Anthony is involved with the new CBSO Youth Orchestra which has incorporated the Midland Youth Orchestra (MYO) of which he was Music Director; as well as being on the new orchestra's Advisory Board, Anthony shared the conducting of its inaugural concert with CBSO Music Director, Sakari Oramo, in October this year. Anthony is also Principal Conductor of the Central England Ensemble (CEE), an orchestra whose remit is to support the work of contemporary composers from the Midlands.

With these various ensembles, Anthony has conducted abroad in Holland, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and in Canada with the MYO as part of the Banff International Festival of Youth Orchestras. With the CEE, he will be returning to Bremen, Germany, next April to conduct a series of concerts including one which will be broadcast live on German national radio.

Anthony has also directed a number of premieres and second performances of contemporary works, including music by Ruth Byrchmore and Andrew Downes (with MYO), Mikhail Tyetieryev and John Joubert (with BFCS). During his time with BFCS, Anthony has conducted the choir in a recording of three Christmas carols made and broadcast by BBC Radio 3; this included a work by BFCS patron John Joubert.

Anthony became Assistant Conductor of Birmingham Festival Choral Society in 1990, its Associate Conductor in 1995, and subsequently its Music Director from July 2004.

E-mail: Anthony Bradbury