Bryan Western has been the Musical Director of the Harrogate Symphony Orchestra since 1985, when it was the Harrogate Chamber Orchestra, helping to bring the Orchestra to its present standard. He trained as a teacher of music and has worked in the Harrogate area since 1976. In 1991 he joined the music staff at King James' School, Knaresborough as Head of Department. His musical interests are many and varied, ranging from orchestral and choral works to composing and arranging.
His 'Pastorale' was premiered by the HCO in 1989 to much acclaim and he has written extensively for school groups - including numerous musicals and choral items. Bryan is particularly keen on creating links between schools and adult music-making and his enthusiasm bore fruit in the first HSO Prom Concerts in 1993. In 1995, he was guest conductor for a choir of over 400 specially formed to sing for the North of England Education Conference in York University's Central Hall, and in 1996 managed to fight off temporary paralysis to conduct 530 singers in Orff's Carmina Burana as part of the 'One Voice' charity concert in 1997.