Lev is a writer, birdwatcher and conductor. He is the author of INTO THE TANGLED BANK, longlisted for the Wainwright Prize, LIGHT RAINS SOMETIMES FALL and WHY DO BIRDS SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR? He was born and grew up in Oxfordshire and now lives in South London with his family, who are getting used to his increasing enthusiasm for nature. As a birdwatcher, his most prized sightings are a Golden Oriole in the Alpujarras in Southern Spain and a Black Redstart at Dungeness Power Station in Kent, England. Lev was the instigator of the popular “Twitter Birdsong Project” – a day-by-day guide designed to help beginners unravel the mysteries of birdsong.

As a conductor, Lev is devoted to the rich world of amateur music-making and works with several London-based orchestras. He has produced two CDs with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the City of Oxford Orchestra. A particular highlight was conducting the theme tune for The Missing Hancocks for BBC Radio 4 with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

He studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and was a percussionist before he became a conductor.

Taking Flight