University Music appoint James Llewellyn Jones as University Chorus Director
University Music are pleased to welcome James Llewellyn Jones as the new Director of University Chorus.
James was born in New Zealand and raised in Montgomeryshire. His musical education continued in Birmingham and he has since led a wide and varied freelance career with choirs across the UK. He currently serves as Musical Director of Phoenix Singers, Rhos Male Voice Choir, and was – for eleven years – the conductor of the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain.
James has toured extensively to America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and most of Europe. He is in great demand as a choral clinician and workshop leader and has undertaken workshops in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, and New Zealand at the invitation of the Australian and New Zealand Choral Federations, and in Chicago and Vancouver for the Association of American Choral Directors. He has also accepted several invitations from the Toronto Children's Chorus.
Based at the Bramall Music Building, James is another addition to the distinguished choral music-making team at the university, which has internationally renowned musicians Mariana Rosas, Bob Chilcott, and Professor Simon Halsey CBE delivering a wide range of choral activity.
University Chorus is a large choir of between 100–150 singers and is one of the longest-standing ensembles at the University. They perform large works for choir, and regularly collaborate with organists and small ensembles from across the city. Recent highlights include performances of music written for choir and organ by composers including Vivaldi, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Bob Chilcott. University Chorus is an un-auditioned community choir, open to singers of all experience levels. At present, the majority of the choir is made up of members of the local community, students, and staff from campus.
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