Directors

Directors

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Paul Wright – Orchestra Director

Paul Wright has established a diverse career as a performer, arranger, composer, and educator. Graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester in 1999 he began his performing career as a trombone player in the orchestra on board the QE2.

Moving to London in 2002 Paul worked extensively on over forty West End and touring musicals, in addition to appearing in house bands and as a guest on primetime BBC television shows including Strictly Come Dancing; the UK equivalent of Dancing with the Stars.

With several orchestra credits also to his name including the Halle Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic (Finland), Orquesta d’Algarve (Portugal), and the Houston Civic Symphony Orchestra (U.S.), the highlight was undoubtedly working with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Whilst a member of the band for the UK touring production of Guys & Dolls, Paul was invited to become the Associate Musical Director and began conducting the show on a weekly basis. A following contract saw Paul accept the position of Assistant Musical Director of the West End revival of Fiddler on the Roof at the Savoy Theatre, London.

Since 2010, Paul has predominantly focused on education and prior to his move to Qatar was Director of Music & Performing Arts at the British International School of Houston. During the six years in Houston, Paul was named Musical Director of the Global Orchestra featuring students from 20 countries in collaboration with the Juilliard School for a performance in New York in 2015.

Moving to Qatar in 2017, Paul is currently the lead teacher for Music at Qatar Academy Doha. He is delighted and honoured to be invited to be the Doha Community Orchestra Musical Director for 2018/19 and is excited about the season ahead.

Jim Kulpa – Wind Symphony Director

Jim Kulpa is currently the Middle School Band and Choir Director at the American School of Doha. Prior to his arrival in Qatar, Jim was Director of Bands at Middlesex High School in Saluda, Virginia. During his time in Virginia, Mr. Kulpa has directed and performed with many different ensembles including The Rappahannock Community Choir, The Northern Neck Orchestra, The Northern Neck Big Band, and The Baytones Barbershop Choir.

Jim is also the founding member of The Steptoe Brass, a semi-professional brass quintet that performed throughout eastern Virginia. Jim has also been a guest conductor/clinician in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

A Graduate of The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Jim studied trumpet with Walter Chestnut, Dr. Daniel D’Addio, and Glenn Fischthal. While at UMASS he performed with the Wind Ensemble, The Five College Orchestra, and was the founding member of Naturally Brass. Jim studied conducting with E. Wayne Abercrombie, Malcolm Rowell, and Ron Steele. Jim can be heard on Centaur Records on The Wind Music of Charles Bestor.

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