Director - James Morley Potter
James is currently Director of Music and Precentor at Magdalene College, Cambridge, in addition to a busy portfolio of musical work encompassing conducting and writing.
Having read Music at The Queen’s College, University of Oxford, he went on to study conducting with Paul Brough, as well as in masterclasses with Paul Spicer, David Hill, Patrick Russill, Simon Carrington, and Nils Schweckendiek. He has been invited to compete in conducting competitions in Denmark and Romania. He is a prize-winning recipient of the Choral Directing Diploma of the Royal College of Organists.
A keen proponent of new and under-explored music, he has commissioned new work from Grayston Ives, Sarah Rimkus, Ben Rowarth, Alison Willis, Bertie Baigent, and premiered compositions by Nick Bicat, Danyal Dhondy, Solfa Carlile, and Paul Burke, as well as masterminding composition competitions, commissioning initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaborations. He works regularly with the new music charity Cantata Dramatica. Recording projects have included a well-received survey of music by the Restoration-era polymath Henry Aldrich.
Other conducting positions have included Wokingham Choral Society, Jubilate Chamber Choir, and his own professional ensemble, Eleutherios. Recent highlights include Bach Mass in B minor with the Instruments of Time and Truth. Educational work includes as a teacher of conducting, as Chapel Music Advisor to Hertford College, Oxford, as well as lecture-workshops for the Choral Institute at Oxford and the Continuing Education Department of the University of Oxford.
He is also active as a writer on music, frequently contributing programme notes and essays for groups including The Tallis Scholars.
jamesmpotter.com
