Martin Budgett
Following two degrees in Music at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and University College, Cardiff, specialising in performance on French Horn, Martin undertook a successful career in education, the majority focussing on the leadership of school improvement in challenging circumstances. Alongside work, he has engaged at various times in a busy life of music-making as a Horn player, organist, harpsichordist, function band keyboard player, and conductor of orchestras, choirs and opera companies.
His conducting work has ranged from chamber works to performances of major choral works and Mahler Symphonies Nos 2, 3 and 6, including a highly acclaimed performance of Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony in Peterborough Cathedral, as well as the huge Berlioz Grande Messe Des Morts.
Martin took early retirement in 2018 and moved to Eastern Cumbria with his wife and Labradors where he is settling happily into the musical life of Richmondshire, Cleveland and Cumbria as a conductor and horn player, and as an organist for his local churches. Invited to conduct Richmondshire Orchestra post-Covid, Martin was then delighted to be appointed as their Principal Conductor in 2023. He has appeared as Guest Conductor with Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and Westmorland Orchestra and, in January 2023, was appointed conductor of the Tebay Cobweb Orchestra.
