Increasingly in demand as a conductor, Alexander Turner is gaining a reputation for his choir-training skills, dynamic programming and community engagement. He is currently Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, Putney Common as well as Musical Director of Stanmore Choral Society, Richmond Chamber Choir, and the conducting scholar at Westminster Cathedral.

 

Recent highlights have been conducting Britten’s Saint Nicolas, Duruflé’s Requiem and large scale works by Jonathan Dove, Bach and Handel, including some of the latter’s Chandos Anthems in the church in which they were premiered. Alex is an advocate for and interpreter of early music, but has also commissioned and premiered works by Lizzy Hardy and Anna Semple. 

 

Alex’s musical journey began as a chorister at Southwell Minster, followed by membership of the choirs of Norwich Cathedral, Royal Holloway and New College, Oxford. He has performed across the UK as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Passions and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, as well as internationally with professional choirs including the Sixteen, Sestina and Siglo de Oro, and continues to sing with the choirs of St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. As a countertenor, Alex has a natural affinity with early music. He continues to transcribe, edit and record neglected music, and enjoys introducing performers and audiences to music from pre-1600.

 

Alex holds a prize-winning first-class degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, where he held a choral scholarship, and began conducting in earnest. He is now studying for a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Patrick Russill and Nic Chalmers. He has conducted the BBC Singers in masterclasses, and enjoyed tuition from Sofi Jeannin, David Hill and Alois Glassner. He is generously supported by the Academy, the Royal College of Organists, and the Incorporated Association of Organists.