Joseph Swensen - American-born (in 1960) but of Japanese and Norwegian heritage - studied at New York's famous Juilliard School and, for the first decade of his career, was a successful solo violinist and exclusive BMG recording artist before turning to his first love, conducting, in 1991. In the second decade of his career he has established himself in his on-going position as Principal Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (since 1996) and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (from 2000-03) based in Cardiff, as well as working with orchestras around the world.

Now, after many years of self-imposed absence from the recording studio, Swensen, along with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Linn Records, embarks on an extensive and energising new project which has already seen their first two releases: Mendelssohn's Symphony No 3 and Violin Concerto (with Swensen also as soloist) and Sibelius' Orchestral Works for the Theatre (Pelleas and Melisande, Belshazzar's Feast, The Tempest, Valse Triste etc.). Other recent successes have included appearances at Mostly Mozart (New York), Tanglewood and Ravinia Festivals in the USA and his débuts with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra and Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, all of which elicited immediate invitations to return.

Swensen's website gives insight into his fascinating cultural background, his enthusiasm for music and his pursuit of inspired collective music-making that aims, first and foremost, to uncover the composers' deepest intentions.