John Dunford, Music Director
John began his musical career as a treble in Birmingham Parish Church Choir. He continued his musical training at Trinity College of Music studying organ, singing, piano, harpsichord and conducting, where he won the Choral Conducting prize and was appointed Senior Student of the College in his final year. While a student at Trinity College of Music he formed and directed a chamber choir which won considerable acclaim.
As a teacher John has been Director of Music in four independent schools including 23 years at Ashville College in Harrogate and, after a period working at Cundall Manor School as a teacher of piano and singing he retired in 2023.
Throughout his career John has maintained an active professional life as an organist, singer and conductor. He has held a number of organists posts including a period in charge of music at Sheffield Cathedral and has played at concerts and services in some 20 Cathedrals in UK and on the Continent. In recent years he has been devoting his time to giving organ recitals, something he has never done on a regular basis, with over 25 given in the last few years.
One of John's trademarks is his vocal dexterity. While professionally he sings most frequently as a tenor soloist, he has also had engagements as a bass and a countertenor. Over the years he has sung regularly with many Yorkshire choirs including Sheffield Bach Society, Sheffield Oratorio Chorus and Doncaster Choral Society. Among many other roles, he has sung Evangelist in Bach's St John Passion, taken the title role in Britten's St Nicolas, and sung the extraordinary swan solo in Carmina Burana in performances in Sheffield and Ely Cathedrals and twice in Harrogate as well as performing in most of the classical masses and requiems.
John's career moved through initial ambitions as an organist, to establishing a solo vocal career (much to his surprise) and having retired, he now devotes his musical abilities towards his choral conducting and organ practice. He is the longest serving conductor of Wetherby Choral Society (1993) and Ripon Choral Society (1997).
It is John’s belief that everyone should be encouraged to join in choral singing and his mission is to maintain the best of the great English Choral Tradition performing a wide range of music, presenting many musical challenges, with professional orchestras and soloists to the highest possible standards. His choirs will tell of his energy, sense of humour, funny stories and anecdotes all designed to make the hard work of the learning process an enjoyable experience for all.
