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Roger WrightBritish radio official
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Roger Wright
- Early Career and BBC
- Controller of Radio 3 and BBC Proms
- Honors and Publications
- Personal Life
Biography of Roger Wright
Roger Wright was born in 1956 in Manchester, England. He attended Chetham's School in Manchester and later pursued music studies at Royal Holloway College, University of London, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in music in 1977. During his time at university, Wright served as the president of the student union.
Early Career and BBC
From 1978 to 1987, Wright worked as a librarian and manager at the British Music Information Centre. He then served as the senior producer of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1987 to 1989. In 1989, Wright became the artistic director of the Cleveland Orchestra, a position he held until 1992. He then joined Deutsche Grammophon, where he worked until 1997.
In 1997, Wright began his tenure as the head of classical music at the BBC, becoming the first person to hold this position. He was responsible for overseeing various musical groups, orchestras, and choirs, including the BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Singers.
Controller of Radio 3 and BBC Proms
In 1998, Wright became the controller of Radio 3. During his time in this role, he introduced a controversial jazz music format, which sparked debates among radio listeners. Additionally, the frequency of live broadcasts on the radio drew some criticism of Wright's administrative activities.
In April 2007, Wright was appointed as the director of the BBC Proms, one of the world's leading music festivals. He officially assumed the position in October, succeeding Nicholas Kenyon. The BBC Proms festival lasts for two months during the summer and features performances by international orchestras, choirs, conductors, and soloists, all broadcast live.
Honors and Publications
In 2002, Wright was awarded an honorary membership in the Royal Holloway College, his alma mater. He has also been honored with honorary membership in the Royal College of Music and membership in the Radio Academy. Wright has contributed to various publications, including the co-authored work "New Music 1989" with Michael Finnissy, and he has edited books on contemporary music for Oxford University Press. In 2005, he received the Association of British Orchestras Award for his outstanding contributions to the orchestral scene in the UK.
Personal Life
Roger Wright is married to Rosie, a yoga instructor, and they have two children together.
