Graham Kirkland

Graham Kirkland was a junior exhibitioner at the Northern School of Music Manchester. As a full-time student there he was a pupil of Kendall Taylor and won the Special Graduate Prize and the Chadwick cup for his performances of music by Beethoven.

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He was an official accompanist at the 1978 International Double Bass Competition, during the 1990s for the Midlands Chorale and the Wrekin and Telford Choral Society and presently for the Manx Music Festival. He has performed extensively as soloist and accompanist, including Mozart, Beethoven and Grieg piano concertos with the Manx Sinfonia. 

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He conducted King William's College Chapel Choir in Salzburg Cathedral and York Minster during twelve years as Director of Music. Six years as Director of Music at Wrekin College Wellington were followed by a return to the Island as Head of Music at QEII High School. 

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From 2002 - 2008 he was Head of Music Service for the Department of Education and during this time re-established the Manx Youth Choir and conducted the Manx Youth Orchestra, organising and leading tours to Germany and the UK and directing projects with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Chetham's School of Music and the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra. 

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Since then Graham has been busy as soloist and accompanist, plays in the first violin section of IOMSO, joined Manx Camerata string quartet, and in September 2021 was honoured to conduct the Isle of Man Choral Society and IOMSO in their performance of Carmina Burana in the Villa Marina. He is currently joint musical director of IOMSO.