One of the most prolific and dynamic musicians of his generation, Charles Hazlewood is Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducts many of the great orchestras in the UK and around the world.

He has authored and conducted the music in several groundbreaking films including Vivaldi Unmasked (BBC One), The Genius Of Mozart (BBC Two and BBC Four), Beethoven (BBC Two and BBC Four) and Tchaikovsky (BBC Two and BBC Four). Charles also presents a weekly show on BBC Radio 3, Charles Hazlewood Discovering Music.

Charles’s passion to explore music of all varieties with the widest possible audience has led him to work with some of the most celebrated contemporary composers, with the rawest new South African vocal talent and at the cutting-edge of the pop music scene.

Charles has conducted over 50 world premières, and worked on projects as diverse as the recent Urban Classics – fusing five Grime MCs with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Hackney Empire.

As one of the academy judges, Charles brings an encyclopaedic knowledge of the music industry, knowing both what it takes to succeed and how to bring music to a wider audience. He will be looking out for this potential in the contestants, as well as an exceptional musical talent.