Martin Binks was born in Knaresborough and educated at Rutherford Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne and at Taunton's School, Southampton. He read for the Honours Degree of B.Mus. at the University of Birmingham and followed this with a further year at University College, Cardiff. It was whilst at Birmingham that he began conducting, organising his own concerts with the University Orchestra. He studied conducting with Sir Charles Groves and Louis Frémaux whilst they were the Conductors of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra). As Artistic Director and Conductor of West Riding Opera, he has conducted over two hundred performances of thirty seven operas in Leeds Civic Theatre. Several operas have been given their first ever productions in the North of England, such as Weber's Euryanthe and Oberon, Lalo's Le Roi d'Ys, Delibes' Lakmé, Bellini's Il Pirata, Marschner's The Vampire, Lortzing's The Poacher and Berlioz’ Beatrice and Benedict. In September 1970 Martin Binks became Conductor of the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and in May 2004 conducted his 200th concert with the Orchestra. During his time as conductor the repertoire has been very wide, from the early eighteenth century to the present day. Perhaps particularly noticeable has been the inclusion of much French music, with nearly all the orchestral music of Berlioz being performed. Martin Binks is Conductor of Knaresborough Choral Society. He is a guest conductor of the Oslo Conservatoire Orchestra and of York Opera. His active interests include cricket - he plays with Arthington C.C. He is married with two sons. In recognition of his services to French music with the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and West Riding Opera, the French Government appointed him Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1993. He received the insignia from the French Ambassador in May 1994.

Artistic Director & Conductor - Martin Binks
Producer - Sarah Estill