King's Philharmonic Orchestra
Biographies
Bertram Yap | Musical Director
Bertram studied music at King’s College London, where he held the position of Assistant Conductor of the King’s College London Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of both the Guy’s Chapel Choir and King’s Philharmonic. Past projects include concerts featuring Mahler’s Fifth (full version) and Fourth Symphony (arr. K. Simon), Britten's Double Concerto, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll as well as works by Prokofiev, Vaughan William, Copland, Ravel, Borodin, Rossini, Bernstein and Elgar. Bertram has also appeared as Guest Conductor in a concert with the Helios Chamber Opera, for which he directed a number of opera scenes. Additionally, he conducted the Oundle Camerata with Professor Maggie Cole on the harpsichord.
Bertram is currently under the tutelage of Jonathan Lo, Senior Lecturer in Classical Conducting and Music Direction at the Leeds College of Music. He has also participated in a short conducting course at the Royal Northern College of Music where Bertram had the privilege to work with Mark Heron, Clark Rundell and other conductors.
Iain Gibbs | Leader
Iain Gibbs began playing the violin at the age of six and went on to study with Erik Houston at the Royal College of Music, Junior Department from 2001 – 2009.
He has just completed the Masters Course at the Royal College of Music, studying with Detlef Hahn. He was awarded a place on the RCM/BBC Symphony Orchestra Orchestral Pathway 2013-2014, which has led to work with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Whilst studying as a scholar at Trinity College of Music with John Crawford, Iain won and was Highly Commended in a number of competitions.
A keen orchestral player, Iain has led the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra since January 2011. He has also recently led projects with Ensemble Lunaire, Marryat Players, London Beethoven Project, Orchestra Vitae, Siegfried Camerata, Portobello Orchestra and King’s Philharmonic. He has performed at venues across London, including the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall and the House of Lords and has worked in France as part of Westminster Opera Company’s Emerging Artists Programme.
Iain has toured with the John Wilson Orchestra and also worked with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera. He recently performed with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett at the Royal Albert Hall as part of a gala evening in support of WellChild.
Iain plays a 1928 William Hill violin, generously lent to him, and is grateful to the Headley Trust for their kind support of his musical ventures.