Our conductor

Maurice Kelly

Maurice Kelly is a choral director, orchestra conductor, animateur and highly skilled pedagogue from Derry in the North West of Ireland. With nearly 30 years’ experience, he has built a strong local and national reputation while continuing to expand his international profile.

He is currently Musical Director and Conductor of Orchestra NorthWest, Allegri Ladies and Allegri Junior choirs, and Artistic Director of the Every Voice Festival, a community-based festival rooted in the ethos that “every voice matters.” With a BMus degree (Honours 1st Class) from Ulster University, he previously served for over 20 years as Principal Accompanist and Aural Skills Tutor with the Education Authority (Western Region) Music Service.

Maurice is a member of the World Choral Conducting Network. His training includes work with Doreen Rao’s Choral Music Experience Institute, Europa Cantat, CHORALSPACE – International Academy for Choral Arts, the Association of British Choral Directors, and Amy Bebbington’s Choral Leadership and Pedagogy series.

He has performed at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, The Kennedy Center, Irish Ambassador’s Residence (Washington DC), Notre Dame Cathedral, The Irish Repertory Theatre (off Broadway) and St Patrick’s Cathedral NYC, West Point, the United Nations Headquarters, and the Papal Palace, Castel Gandolfo.

In 2019, he established Orchestra NorthWest to provide high-quality orchestral opportunities for local musicians. As Cultural Ambassador for Futureproof Northwest, Maurice champions cultural connections and strongly believes in the power of artistic collaboration for social good. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Sestina Music .