He is a choral director, radio presenter, editor and writer who became a chorister and student at Lichfield Cathedral when he was young. His later studies were taken at Winchester College before becoming a choral scholar at New College, Oxford.
During his time there he took up the post of conductor and led the Oxford Chamber Choir and the New College Chamber Orchestra. After his graduation in 1982 he entered into further research studies at the King’s College, London and took up the post of Studio Manager for BBC Radio and in 1984 he established the choral group Oxford Camerata who have since gained acclaim for their concerts and recordings.
He sang with choirs and conducted at several churches in London and in 1989 he joined London’s Royal Academy of Music as a lecturer and over the years progressed to the position of Head of Academic Studies followed by Head of Undergraduate Programmes and most recently he has been the Sterndale Bennett Lecturer in Music.
In 1990 he became the conductor of the Schola Cantorum and remained leading them for several years and in 1992 he established the Oxford Camerata Instrumental Ensemble.
Continuing his work into the 2000s, he was the Director of Music at Chelsea’s Christ Church from 1999 to 2002 following which he founded the Royal Academy Consort.
Another side to his career sees him as an article writer for many music magazines and as an editor working for Faber Music.
During his career to date he has performed on a national and international level, conducting orchestras and ensembles in premier performances and other concerts that include the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Berlin Philharmonic, the Britten Sinfonia, The New London Chamber Choir, The Tallis Chamber Choir and at the BBC Proms and the Palestine Mozart Festival.
Conducting more then 40 recordings, he has been awarded a European Cultural Prize and made an honorary associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Oxford Camerata recordings
Be Merry, Be Merry (15th century English)
Naxos 855075 (CD: Medieval Carols)
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