Appointment of Principal Conductor
Guildford Chamber Choir is delighted to announce the appointment of Max Barley as their new Principal Conductor with effect from September 2018. Max takes over from Steven Grahl who led the choir for 11 years.
Max Barley began his musical life as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, and later became organ scholar of St John’s College, Oxford where he read Modern Languages and was responsible for directing the chapel choir. He studied conducting in London and at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich.
He is currently Director of Music at St Mary’s Wimbledon and Music Director of the Choir of the 21st Century, Eltham Choral Society and Wimbledon Youth Choir. Formerly Assistant Director of Tiffin Boys’ Choir and Trinity Laban Chapel Choir, Max has also worked regularly with several other London choirs in addition to working on choral courses in the UK and China including Eton Choral Courses, the National Children’s Choir, and National Youth Choir of Wales.
Max writes: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be given the opportunity to work with such a musically quick-witted group of singers, and to build on Steven Grahl’s wonderful work. The choir's energy for and joy in their singing was clear from the word go. I am excited about what lies ahead.”
Guildford Chamber Choir looks forward to a stimulating season ahead working with this exciting young conductor. Max’s inaugural concert with the choir is in Holy Trinity Church, Guildford on Saturday November 17th 2018.
