Colin

Colin Touchin was a conductor, composer, clarinettist and recorder-player and had been an adjudicator for over 30 years. He gained the LTCL Performer’s Diploma on recorder at the age of 16 and played in masterclasses with Jeanette van Wingerden, Ferdinand Conrad and Konrad Huenteler. He had composed extensively for Recorder Orchestra and with his father founded Tomus Publications. Recently he had led workshops in Recorder Orchestra in Switzerland, and Masterclasses for Recorder Orchestra conductors in Taiwan.

During eight years at Chetham’s School of Music (including two as Head of Composition) and almost fifteen as Director of Music at the University of Warwick, Colin had a distinguished record of conducting, composing for, and encouraging young musicians in orchestras, bands and choirs. The University of Warwick Chamber Choir and he gained gold or silver awards at almost every international festival entered including televised semi-finals of Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year in 2000 and performed with the London Mozart Players and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. With wind ensembles from the University of Warwick, Colin commissioned new works and gained many awards in the National Concert Band Festival, including Gold at the Open Class Final in 2002; it is believed this award and the Choir’s competition record are unique for any British university.

He founded several ensembles – including Warwick Orchestral Winds, the British Universities Honours Band, and the National Youth Recorder Orchestra – and had conducted the National Youth Wind Orchestras of both Britain and Luxembourg.

His compositions have been broadcast on national and local radio and television, and he was increasingly in demand to write to commission, and to lead workshops in conducting, clarinet, recorder, teaching and adjudication, having given such presentations in over 20 countries.

He was Conductor of Derbyshire City and County Youth Wind Band, Musical Director of Warwickshire County Youth Orchestra, a regular guest conductor of the Essex Chamber Orchestra, Associate Conductor of London Charity Orchestra, and founder/conductor of Spires Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus in Coventry.

He had played a significant role in the activities of the British and International Federation of Festivals during the last decade, including membership of the Core Team for the Festival of Festivals, and the post of Vice-Chairman.