Our conductor
Yannis Daoutis- Conductor (2023)
Originally from Snape, Suffolk, Yannis headed North in 2012 to study at Leeds College of Music, obtaining a degree in Classical Music, in 2015, specialising in Clarinet and Conducting. His teachers included Colin Honour (Opera North) and Jonathan Lo (Northern Ballet and Rambert Dance) and masterclasses with Emma Johnson, Janet Hilton, Robert Plane, Natalia Luis-Bassa and Erik Nielsen. Whilst a student, Yannis received the College Prize for Woodwind (2013) and along with the Trio “Les Trois Vents” was runner-up of the LUUMS Chamber Music Competition (2015). During his time, he served as the founding Musical Director of the LCoMSU Camerata and Chorus.
Yannis returned to Snape in 2013 to assist Robin Ticciati OBE (Glyndebourne Opera) in a residency with the Britten-Pears Orchestra and cellist, Miklós Peréyni. He was invited to attend the Progetto Musica 2018 at the Foundazione Spinola Banna per L’Arte in Turin, Italy, supporting the ensemble mdi and Fillipo Perocco working on two new compositions in conjunction with the composer Unsuk Chin.
Alongside Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Yannis is currently Associate conductor with Harrogate Philharmonic Orchestra.
Having settled in Leeds over the past ten years, Yannis has held a number of positions in the region including; staff conductor for Leeds College of Music, Chorus Director with the Leeds International Festival Orchestra, Musical Director of the Orchestra of Leeds Cathedral, Musical Director for the White Rose Orchestra, associate conductor for Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, conductor for York Youth Orchestra, conductor for Leeds Summer Orchestra and as assistant conductor under Ben Crick and the English National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Beyond conducting, Yannis currently works as an Asset Compliance Manager for the University of Leeds, specialising in building and engineering compliance and has previously managed property and decarbonisation projects for education providers in the Leeds region.
When not conducting, or holding down a normal career, Yannis is a keen cook and wine buff and enjoys hosting large feasts for friends and family with his wife, Katie.
