Michael Downes

Biography

Michael Downes, MA, MPhil, DPhil, OBE, is a conductor, lecturer and writer who has lectured for most of the UK’s leading opera companies and writes programme notes for organisations including Wigmore Hall and Snape Maltings. He collaborated with Nike Wagner, great-granddaughter of Richard, on the English version of her book about her family’s history, and his latest book, Story of the Century: Wagner and the Creation of the Ring was published by Faber & Faber in November 2024. Since 2008 Michael has occupied the post of Director of Music at the University of St Andrews, having previously held the same position at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and he led the project to build the £15m Laidlaw Music Centre at St Andrews. He was awarded an OBE for services to music and education in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025.