Hurst Green Singers was founded in 1961, when the Reverend John Bickersteth, then vicar of St John’s Church, Hurst Green, gathered together a group of singers to assist in a production of TS Elliot’s ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ performed by players from Oxford University. The singers continued to meet informally, encouraged by the vicar (who later became Bishop of Bath and Wells), and so Hurst Green Singers was formed with Richard Carter as its first conductor.
Len Maynard took over as conductor in 1975 and the choir began to perform larger works, frequently with an orchestra of local musicians.
Michael Barlow, organist, accompanist, singer and conductor, took over in 1985.
James Meaders took over in September 2018. Dr James Meaders is Founder and Artistic Director of Vox Anima, London, and conductor of Vox Populi and Vox Anima - two UK based ensembles that promote and perform the repertoire of today's composers. He has taught undergraduate and graduate conducting, applied voice, and chaired a university department of music. He was a practicing church musician for more than 25 years before moving to New York and has conducted community choirs, numerous honor choirs and many festivals. He moved to England in 2017 following a rewarding 3-year stint with DCINY as Associate Artistic Director and Conductor.
Our rehearsal accompanist is Gillian Oldridge.
