COLOMBIAN conductor Juan José Muñoz Borja takes up the baton for Settle Orchestra’s new season this autumn, with 17-year-old orchestra member Harris Birch stepping into the spotlight as bassoon soloist for concerts in Settle and Skipton.
Juan José is currently completing a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he studies with Mark Heron and Clark Rundell.
He has worked with a wide range of professional and youth orchestras in Colombia and internationally and has taken part in masterclasses with distinguished conductors including Sir Mark Elder, Marin Alsop, Nicolás Pasquet, Andrés Orozco-Estrada and Alpesh Chauhan. During Settle Orchestra's 2026/27 season, he will also begin a collaboration with London-based Chineke! Orchestra as Assistant Conductor.
Alongside his conducting career, Juan José has a strong commitment to the role music can play in communities and as a tool for social change. Most recently, he worked with the Iberacademy Foundation, coordinating community engagement strategies through its In Crescendo programme.
His arrival continues Settle Orchestra’s relationship with emerging conducting talent from the Royal Northern College of Music and follows a successful season of concerts in Settle and Skipton.
The relationship will once again be supported by Northern Rail, which is continuing its support of Settle Orchestra by providing train ticket support for Juan José between Manchester and Settle for the orchestra’s weekly rehearsals and concerts. The support helps make it possible for the orchestra to work regularly with emerging conducting talent based at the RNCM while maintaining its home in the Yorkshire Dales.
Juan José’s first concert programme with the orchestra brings together music by Mozart, Jacobi and Beethoven, with afternoon performances at Settle Parish Church on Saturday November 14 and Christ Church, Skipton on Saturday November 21.
Opening the programme is Mozart’s Ballet Music from Idomeneo, before the spotlight turns to one of Settle Orchestra’s own young musicians.
Harris Birch, one of the orchestra’s youngest members, will step forward as bassoon soloist in Jacobi’s Introduction and Polonaise for Bassoon and Orchestra.
It follows an exceptional achievement for Harris earlier this year. At just 17 years old, he achieved a Distinction in his Bassoon Diploma, scoring an outstanding 48 marks out of 50.
His featured performance is particularly special for an orchestra which places great importance on encouraging young and emerging musicians. Having developed as a player within Settle Orchestra, Harris now has the opportunity to take centre stage alongside the musicians with whom he regularly performs.
As Settle Orchestra begins its new season, it is also welcoming new string players who would like to join the orchestra. The orchestra brings together musicians from across the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding area for weekly rehearsals in Settle and concerts in both Settle and Skipton. String players looking for an opportunity to enjoy challenging and varied orchestral repertoire in a friendly ensemble are warmly invited to get in touch.
Anyone interested in joining can find further information and contact details through the Settle Orchestra website.settleorchestra.org.uk
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