Graham Tear
Musical Director

Graham Tear was raised in Northampton, educated at Northampton Grammar School and began musical studies with Stephen Cleobury. From there he spent four years at the Birmingham School of Music (now the Birmingham Conservatoire) studying flute with Colin Lilley and James Galway, bassoon with Andrew Barnell and conducting with Harold Gray.

After several years working as a freelance flute player and working at Stowe School, he joined the County Music Service and since then he has conducted almost all the various county groups at different times. He works as a teacher and adjudicator, conducts for the European Youth Summer School, the W.M.A and University College Northampton. He has worked with many local amateur groups, bands, choirs and operatic companies.

Graham became the NSO's Musical Director in 2000.