We took five minutes out of James’s busy schedule to discuss what makes this choir tick, and how he gets the best from a community choir.

Coming together as a community choir

‘I’m aware that singing in a community choir is not just about striving for musical excellence, it’s also about coming together. People have said it a million ways – the benefits of choirs, the benefits of singing: for positive mental health, being part of a community… Making friends, meeting new people, belonging, striving for a goal, for something bigger than yourself.’

Do you have to read music?

‘I’m not expecting people to be reading the music (some people are, there are some very good readers here) but everyone can get something out of the notation, spot patterns and shapes.

‘A community choir’s got to cater for all different needs and abilities and experiences of singing; I think that’s a really good thing. And hopefully everyone is stretched the right amount!’

A bit more about James

James teaches music at the London Oratory School. Before that he was Assistant Director of Music and Chapel Organist at Stowe School. He is a prize-winning Associate of the Royal College of Organists.

He started out as a pianist, then began organ lessons at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music with Simon Mercer. He won an Organ Scholarship at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, and studied with Ian Tracey. He read music at Cambridge University, where he studied the organ with Stephen Farr, and was Organ Scholar at Corpus Christi College. He was the recipient of the John Sanders Memorial Competition for Young Composers award in 2019.