Ipswich Hospital Band Musical Director

Lawrence Killian

Suffolk-based musician Lawrence Killian draws on his extensive experience as an orchestral conductor and brass player to inspire and energise those he works with.

Hailing from Haworth in West Yorkshire, Lawrence has enjoyed conducting many orchestras and groups over the years. His work with the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestra of Square Chapel has brought much critical acclaim. Last year Lawrence had the pleasure of returning to Yorkshire to conduct the Airedale Symphony Orchestra in their “Summer Promenade Concert”.

“There is no mistaking conductor Lawrence Killian’s enthusiasm for the music he chooses for his concerts ……. he was the ideal interpreter of both symphonies drawing out their infectious melodies and rhythms, stylistically aware and able to extract the most attentive and expressive playing from all members of the orchestra.”

Review, Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax – Haydn Symphony No.98, and Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony

Having moved to Suffolk in 2021, Lawrence has already become well-known as an active musician and has continued to focus on composing, conducting, and arranging. Now our Musical Director, he first conducted the Ipswich Hospital Band at a successful concert in March 2023. Lawrence joined the band as a trumpeter in 2021 and soon made a positive impression on all of us as a player and arranger.

Lawrence continues to play trumpet with various groups across the county. His brass quintet, “The Raedwald Ensemble”, was founded in 2022, and their performances have become very popular. Lawrence was delighted to be guest conductor with the Suffolk Sinfonia Orchestra in June 2023 at their concert at the “Apex” in Bury St Edmunds. As a composer, Lawrence’s most recent composition for orchestra and narrator is based on the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol. The premiere was given by the Banbury Symphony Orchestra in December 2022, with further performances by the Huddersfield Philharmonic and the Aberdeen City Orchestra. Following the success of the Banbury performance, he has been commissioned to write another work for their Christmas concert in 2023.

Our previous musical directors, Band Master & Assistants