Conductor

Marcello Palazzo

Marcello is a second year Music student studying at St. Chad’s College Durham, where he was a Choral Scholar in his first year. He began his studies at Junior Guildhall, and is a violinist, pianist, singer, composer and, more recently, an organist.

A previous Music Scholar at Eton College, Marcello has received conducting tuition from Tim Johnson and Peter Stark. As an orchestral conductor, he has been extremely fortunate to have had permission to watch rehearsals under Charles DuToit, Antonio Pappano, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Ed Gardner, Bernard Haitink, Nicola Luisotti, and Simon Rattle. Also a composer, Marcello feels very fortunate to have been present at Oliver Knussen’s final rehearsals with the BBCSO and George Benjamin’s rehearsals for his latest opera, Lessons in Love and Violence.

As a composer, he has been Shortlisted and Highly Commended in the BBC Inspire Composition Competition and awarded a place as an NYO composer. Marcello was awarded 2nd prize at the Windsor Festival for vocal composition. He has engaged in masterclasses with Nico Muhly and Laura Bowler, and has studied with Christian Mason, David Horne, Tim Watts, Laurence Osborn and Jonathan Woolgar. He is currently studying composition privately with Julian Anderson.

Marcello is also the conductor of Durham University Chamber Choir, and has founded two ensembles, The Patchwork Ensemble and Durham University Concert Opera (DUCO), of which he is Musical Director and President.

Marcello was also appointed Assistant Musical Director of Durham University Opera Ensemble (DOE) in his first term at the university, and Musical Director during his second term. Other interests include writing short stories, poetry and plays; whilst at school, he won a regional poetry competition and directed and acted in his own play.

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Marcello intends to take his composing and conducting onwards into professional capacities and is absolutely thrilled to be working with DUOS this academic year (2019/20).