musical director & conductor

jonathan kingston

Jonathan Kingston was an organ student at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral while studying with Ian Tracey and Ian Wells before being appointed Sub Organist at Bradford Cathedral.

Assistant Director and Director of Music appointments followed at Stowe and Bromsgrove Schools before an appointment to The King’s School in Ely as Director of Music where he served Ely Cathedral as deputy organist and as a choral director.

Jonathan is a recording artist for Naxos, Priory and EMI Records and is an ABRSM grade and diploma examiner and trainer, touring this country and internationally.

As an organist, he has appeared with many leading orchestras and choirs including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hallé, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and English Symphony Orchestra as well as featuring in many live broadcasts for BBC radio and television.

He is a trustee for the National Musicians’ Church of Holy Sepulchre in London as well as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and the City of London.

Jonathan is Director of Music at the Parish Church in Stony Stratford and since September 2023, he has become Musical Director of Banbury Choral Society following his successful role as Accompanist and Deputy Musical Director with the choir. He has been delighted by the warm welcome he has received and is looking forward to leading the choir into its next phase of development.

accompanist

julian harris

Julian Harris has had a long and varied career embracing work at the R.S.C. and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He has played and conducted all over Europe including Saint Peter’s in Rome as well as in the country’s major halls, including the Queen Elizabeth and Cadogan Halls in London. He founded St James’s Singers 38 years ago and the choir will perform their last concert on 7th October 2023 with Bach’s ‘B Minor Mass’.

Julian joined Banbury Choral Society in 2011 and has recently stood down as the choir’s Musical Director to become our Accompanist. During this time he has taken the choir on a journey to new heights and provided us with the tools to sing complex music to a high level. Highlights have included a concert at Broughton Castle to launch The Friends of Banbury Choral Society; ‘A Choral Jubilee’ - Last Night of the Proms joint collaboration with Warriner Choral Society (now Cherwell Choral Society); Verdi ‘Requiem’ in collaboration with St James’s Singers at All Saints Church, Leamington; celebrating the choir’s 80th Anniversary with Bach ‘St John Passion’ - a triumph under such difficult times coming out of the pandemic; a collaboration with the Carice Singers to celebrate Vaughan Williams 150th Anniversary - to name just a few successes. The icing on the cake was when Julian conducted us at Evensong in St George’s Chapel, Windsor in July 2023. A wonderful way to end his tenure as Musical Director/Conductor for Banbury Choral and we look forward to him accompanying the choir.

His teaching embraces A-level/GCSE, theory, piano and singing as well as the Kodaly Method.

His schedule continues to keep life very busy.

PAST ACCOMPANISTS

Since Banbury Choral Society was founded in 1942, it has been fortunate to receive the support of some exceptionally talented accompanists. Banbury Choral Society feels it is important to acknowledge them.

1942 Mary Barry - Mary evacuated from London during the war and came to live in the Banbury area. She returned to London after the war ended.

Late 1940s Betty Hobbs - Betty was a good friend of Goeffrey Furnish (the first conductor to lead Banbury Choral Society).

1950 - 60s Ena Grubb - Ena was a well-known Banbury piano teacher.

1960s Thelma Robinson - Past Head of Music at Tudor Hall School.

1974 Anthony Swift - Local pianist and piano teacher as well as an honorary member of BCS.

2004 Jo Benlalam - Music teacher at Tudor Hall School.

2009 Elsa Williams - Local musician and teacher.

2019 David Palmer - Oxford graduate, First Class BA in Music, Composer

2021 Jonathan Kingston - Organist, Teacher, Examiner, Recording Artist, Director of Music