He is a violinist, conductor and previous boy treble born in Guildford, England.
After making his name known as the boy treble who sang with the King’s College Choir, Cambridge, on their acclaimed recording of Miserere by Gregorio Allegri , he studied violin, conducting and organ at the Royal College of Music in London, and upon graduating was qualified in each of these subjects as well as teaching and musicology.
After embarking on his professional career he became a violinist and a concertmaster and worked with major conductors that include Sir Simon Rattle , Sir Roger Norrington, Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
As a solo violinist he has performed with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Peter Schrier and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy with the Philharmonia Orchestra .
In 1985, after having been invited to conduct he joined the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and quickly gained recognition that led him to being offered the post of Principal Conductor of The Hanover Band. Since that time he has conducted orchestras in many nations of the world including Scandinavia, Britain, Germany, France and the United States among others.
Recording over 100 CDs he was one of the first to record using historic instruments for complete symphonies, which is assisted by his interest and knowledge in historical performance practice.
Appearing on television and radio he has performed with the Prague Chamber Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and in his concert appearances he has conducted twenty world premieres.
He was the Principal Conductor of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra in Winnipeg, Canada, from 1999 to 2005, was the First Principal Conductor of the Holland Symfonia and Dutch National Ballet from 2003 to 2006, was the Conductor of the Bachkoor Holland accompanied by the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebuow Kamerorkest from 2003 to 2010, the Principal Guest Conductor of the English Chamber Orchestra from 2004 to 2014 and the Auckland Philharmonia from 2007 to 2011. He was also the Honorary President of Glasgow’s Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus from 2010 to 2014)
He announced his retirement in 2012 but continued to work at least until 2014.
The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge recordings
Miserere (Gregorio Allegri )
Polygram 466 075-2 (CD: The Greatest Choral Show on Earth)
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Treble – Roy Goodman
Here he is conducting the Brandenburg Consort in the aria “Blute nur” from St. Matthew’s Passion by Bach…..
Sources:
- http://www.roygoodman.com/Roy_Goodman/BIO.html
- http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Goodman-Roy.htm
- http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/artist_page.asp?name=goodman
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Goodman
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/roy-goodman-mn0000188216/biography
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/836049-Roy-Goodman