Kenneth Woods, conductor
“Playful brilliance...”
Austin American Statesman

“Brimming with personality, affection and freshly imagined
drama...”
Washington Post

“A conductor with true vision and purpose...”
Peter Oundjian, Music Director, Toronto Symphony
"Kenneth Woods
led a performance
of Elgar's Enigma
Variations with
such commitment
and passion that
one could not help
but be stirred by
the power of it."

Elgin Valley News
The Washington Post praises Kenneth Woods’ performances as
“alive and engaging,"  calling him a “true star” and an “up-and-
coming conductor.” The Cincinnati Post calls him "alert,
efficient and confident" and Leonard Slatkin chose Kenneth
Woods as one of only four young conductors to make their debuts
with the National Symphony Orchestra as part of the 2001
National Conducting Institute.
Kenneth Woods'
collaborations include

Music Director-
Oregon East Symphony and Chorale
Critics call it "now certainly the best
rural symphony orchestra in North
America"

Regular Guest Conductor
BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Principal guest Conductor-
Rose City Chamber Orchestra

Music Director-
Surrey Mozart Players

Principal Conductor
Lancashire Chamber Orchestra
The very latest in the papers-


"Kenneth Woods revealed a strong empathy for Vaughan
Williams' music... a convincing performance of this major
work which, although composed during World War II, seems to
hark back to more placid times.  The slow movement was a
profoundly spiritual experience while the closing passacaglia
sounded decidedly upbeat as if confident of better times ahead.

"While some may dispute that...  Schumann's Second is the
greatest symphony written since Beethoven, Woods' tense
and driven interpretation certainly confirmed it as  a work of
stature. Schumann composed it after his first mental
breakdown, and the monumental first movement mirrored his
titanic struggle to recover his sanity. A few rays of hope could
be spotted in the bustling Scherzo but a dark mood
underpinned it. Nor was there any respite in the Adagio which
a strong performance from the string section rendered
intensely moving.
The Cheltenham Echo, May 28, 2009


"The concert ended with the young Beethoven’s symphony no.
1 in C under Kenneth Woods.  The execution of this work was
a triumph, well articulated, vigorous and controlled. It was
tempting to break into applause after the first movement.
Strong dynamic contrasts, steady, harmonious woodwind,
brass and string combinations and delicate phrasing featured
in the Andante. The Minuet was successfully Allegro molto e
vivace and the last movement was impressive, the dynamics,
intonation, unison playing and other details, all a pleasure to
listen to. Congratulations to the violins and the brass sections
in this last movement for their excellent coordination."
Surrey Advertiser, March 9, 2009

"The second half was devoted entirely to Brahms’s Symphony
No 2. This ambitious undertaking was pulled off with
considerable aplomb, much credit being due to the conductor
Kenneth Woods’s obvious affinity for the work and his ability
to convey his intentions to his willing subjects. The
performance had real drive and was especially commendable
for the beautifully judged timpani and some excellent solo horn
playing. The string sound was fulsome and the woodwind
played with forthright agility"
The Hereford Times, November 10, 2008

"Surrey Mozart Players' latest concert, at the Electric Theatre,
drew a capacity audience and proved a memorable conclusion
to this year's Guildford Spring Festival. The overture to
Schumann's opera Genoveva, with its richly varied moods,
showed the orchestra at its best and convinced us that the
piece deserves a more central place in the repertoire
The Surrey Advertiser, March 13, 2008

“Woods looks like a younger, dark-haired William Hurt...he and
... Pendleton's unlikely symphony orchestra give Mahler the
ride of his life"
David Stabler, The Oregonian, Sunday, May 27, 2007

“A remarkable finale to the evening: Shostakovich’s Chamber
Symphony op 73a. The Surrey Mozart Players produced a
very moving performance of this very difficult work. The
cataclysmic nature of the third movement certainly produced
an effect I think not experienced by the Electric Theatre ever
before. This performance was a triumph."
The Surrey Advertiser, July 3, 2007

"American rock and classical musician Kenneth Woods
seemed a born conductor in his recent city debut.
His second appearance with the Nottingham Philharmonic
underlined that impression with performances combining
excitement and integrity."
Peter Palmer, Nottingham Evening Post, March 12, 2007

"American conductor Kenneth Woods certainly knows his
way around the orchestra, in terms of cueing, balance and
structure, as was evident throughout the culminating
performance of Dvorak’s Eighth Symphony…  a full-bodied,
rich performance of a … high standard...  "
Michael Tumelty, The Herald, Glasgow, December 6, 2006
More critical acclaim here
Upcoming Concerts-

June 1-8, 2009
Ensemble Epomeo Spring Tour
Details at ensemble-epomeo.net

June 13, 2009
Surrey Mozart Players
Beethoven- Leonore Overture no. 2
Ginasterra- Harp Concerto
Victoria Davies- harp
Schumann- Symphony no. 4 in D minor

June 19, 2009
Orchestra of the Swan
Shakespeare Summer Proms
Stratford-upon-Avon
Haydn and Mendelssohn Anniversary Prom
Stratford-upon-Avon
Mozart- Symphony no. 12
Haydn- Cello Concerto no. 1 in C major
Nick Stringfellow, cello
Mendelssohn- Song Without Words
Haydn- Symphony no. 45 "Farewell"
Haydn-Jahr 2009

June 26, 2009
International Festival-Institute at Round Top
Texas Festival Orchestra
Haydn Anniversary Gala Concert, Haydn-Jahr 2009
James Schlefer- Concerto for Shakuhachi and Chamber
Orchestra
World Premiere Commission
Haydn- Sinfonia Concertante for Oboe, Bassoon, Violin and
Cello
Haydn- Symphony no. 86 in D Major

July 4, 2009
Helix Ensemble
Haydn- Symphony no. 60 "Il Distratto," Haydn-Jahr 2009
Philip Sawyers- Symphony no. 2
Beethoven- Symphony no. 4


Current Broadcasts-
BBC Radio 3
Discovering Music Live
Haydn and Telemann- Trumpet Concerti
Philippe Schartz, trumpet
Stephen Johnson, presenter
Click here to listen

BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC Radio 3
Discovering Music Live
Chopin- Piano Concerto no 1
Piers Lane, piano
Stephen Johnson, presenter
Click here to listen
Kenneth Woods talks Mahler and the
OES on Morning Edition, here

Kenneth Woods and "A view from the
podium"  subject of a full page
feature in January 2007
Gramophone Magazine.

Find out why the Oregon East
Symphony is the most talked-about
orchestra in the Northwest in this
multimedia feature from the
Oregonian,  here