Music / Feature
Pushing boundaries in the orchestral industry
Pete Harrison’s career has skyrocketed. From playing bassoon at a school in Backwell near Bristol to conducting a show at the Prince Edward Theatre in London’s West End, his résumé is a long one.
After studying at music college in London, an opportunity came up to conduct a show called Crazy For You in 1994, and since then he’s never looked back.
Now touring with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), he focuses on shows featuring commercial music and film sessions, a choice driven by passion.
is needed now More than ever
“I love doing the film sessions,” Pete tells Bristol24/7. “I’ve had people in tears in the audience before.
“Take Saving Private Ryan, which is a very powerful film, to think of all the things that people went through, all the things that happened during that scene, and then you hear this beautiful piece of music and take people right back into the film again, it’s very beautiful.”
Pete will be conducting The Best of Williams and Zimmer as well as Symphonic Pink Floyd with the BSO.
“I’ve been a lifelong fan of Pink Floyd,” says Pete. “I used to go down Friday nights to the Weston Youth Orchestra. One of my pals from the orchestra was a big fan and we used to listen to Floyd a lot of the time back then.”
Pete credits the youth orchestras from his childhood for his later interest in the industry. From the Weston Youth Orchestra to the Somerset Youth Orchestra, he hopes to give back to those communities that inspired him.
Conductor Pete Harrison will be bringing two major shows to Bristol Beacon with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra this year. photo Giulia Spadafora
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities I got as a kid. There were a handful of people that really made music-making and music-reading very special and showed us the way.
“If I can do anything to help any of the younger players coming up now, to have any influence on them that I had as a kid, then I’m just delighted to do that.”
Pete gives his time to a number of youth orchestras as musical director for the BSO Voices Choir in Southampton and Brent Youth Concert Pops Orchestra.
His other education work includes the Orchestra and Wind Ensemble at Wells Cathedral School, the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and various guest sessions with schools and orchestras throughout the UK.
However, as many industries are finding, the impact of COVID, the cost of living crisis and also the rise of streaming services has made it more difficult than ever to get people out from behind their TV and in front of a stage.
“Our job these days is much more about making people aware of the different concepts, focusing on shows that you will want to come to while still remaining faithful to the art behind it.
“We want to be pushing the boundaries a bit, not just doing the same old things. We’ve got to also do contemporary music, operas and ballet. I think I do think that’s important.”
Pete will see a triumphant return to the recently reopened Bristol Beacon this month with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, who returned as the venue’s Orchestra in Residence at the start of its 2023/24 orchestral season.
“The first big symphony orchestra concert I did was with my county orchestra at the Colston Hall,” reflects Pete.
“Then the very first concert I saw as a kid with my mum and dad was an orchestra called the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,” he laughs. “So I’ve got some lovely connections with the orchestra and with that hall.”
Symphonic Pink Floyd takes place on May 10 and tickets can be found at https://bsolive.com/events/symphonic-pink-floyd-bristol/
Main photo: Andy Holdsworth
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
