Chorus Director
"The Chorus sounded immense...finely calibrated...
just as impressive when singing very quietly."
RSNO Chorus, Verdi Requiem, 2023
I was thrilled to be appointed Chorus Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus in September, 2022. Very much a case of 'hitting the ground running', however, with an invitation to conduct the RSNO and a community choir in the premiere of Jonathan Dove/Zeb Soames' Gaspard's Christmas! A big success, with two live performances over Christmas and a broadcast on Classic FM. This first season also required my preparing the 130-strong Chorus for the 'book-end' performances of Britten's War Requiem and Verdi's Requiem, both critically-acclaimed with the Verdi showcasing choir of 190 singers that I brought together ("Their sound was magnificent"- Edinburgh Music Review). Mid-season, however, saw the RSNO Chorus a cappella, in a programme stretching from Schütz to Rheinberger with some MacMillan thrown in. See some images from this performance here.
In the seasons since my appointment there has been an influx of new members, which has helped swell the overall membership to some 140 voices. Subsequent seasons have featured seen the Chorus deliver some critically-acclaimed performances of major works, including Bruckner's Mass in E minor, where the Chorus "rose magnificently to the challenges posed by this big work", and "a magnificently expressive performance" of James MacMillan's Christmas Oratorio during its Scottish premiere performance. More recent concerts have showcased some more unusual sororities, such as a concert of American music including Ives' Psalm 90, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and the European premiere of J.J. McIntyre's great fun Missa Brevis with its large array of percussion complementing the organ.
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I am particularly thrilled to have been invited to conduct the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with all of its associated choruses in the 2025 round of Christmas concerts, also featuring The Snowman as its main attraction!
Based in East Lothian, Scotland, the Garleton Singers, a choir of some 70 voices, has been a feature of musical life in the east of Scotland since its formation in 1970 and I'm only the second director of this enthusiastic group of singers! The choir's 50th birthday was somewhat hampered by COVID, but recent concerts have seen the choir bursting back on the concert stage, not least with the world premiere of a new substantial work for choir, brass and organ, The Haddington Psalms written for the choir by local composer Nigel Don. More recent concerts saw the choir joining with the well-regarded Meadows Chamber Orchestra in a concert featuring pairing Puccini's Messa di Gloria with Elaine Hagenberg's popular Illuminare.
"...great vitality and energy...exuberant and glorious resonance..."
Garleton Singers, Vivaldi Gloria
The choir performs most regularly in the glorious 14th century St. Mary's Church, Haddington but also sings regularly in Edinburgh. Furthermore the choir has embarked on various tours to Europe, including the Rhine Valley and Italy, with a future concert tour to Spain planned in 2026.
'Come & Sing' events, where people turn up and learn music in a day purely for the fun of it, is an aspect of my musical life I find hugely enjoyable! Throughout my choral career I have directed a number of highly-successful events, generally singing major familiar works in the choral repertoire such as Mozart Requiem, though sometimes involving lots of shorter pieces eg Choral Classics (see picture). Many of these events are in aid of local charities, most frequently Edinburgh's Waverley Care, and are usually accompanied by piano or organ. However, in recent years I have conducted similar events under the RSNO banner, with the the added delight of a performance at the end of the day accompanied by full symphony orchestra! An event in 2024 attracted some 800 singers and I hope to repeat this success in January 2026: Carmina Burana with full symphony orchestra is an event not to be missed so come and join the fun in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall! Sign up here !
