Herbert Baggs was a founder member of the original choir. It consisted of 158
Choir members and 20 Orchestral players. The venue for concerts was the Queen's Hall and The Times and The Telegraph gave many good and honest criticisms. Mr Baggs rehearsed both the Choir and Orchestra and laid a
wonderful foundation for others to follow.
Gerry Darling-January 1941 - January 1965
Gerry assumed the role of Conductor and Choirmaster from Herbert Baggs.
He continued to discharge this duty even after retiring from banking.
and continued conducting the Choir at all performances until his death
in 1965.
Ian Humphris-January 1966 - November 2006
Ian became the choir's conductor in 1966. Well known as the conductor of the
famous singing group, the Linden Singers, appearing regularly on television and
radio. As a member of the male quintet, the Baccholian Singers, he has given
recitals in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Poland and many European
and Scandinavian countries.
Ian has written over 200 choral and orchestral arrangements, many published and recorded.
For 20 years he presented television and radio programmes for schools
on BBC and ITV, introducing and writing music for "Music Time" on BBC TV and
"Music Workshop" and "Music Makers" on radio.
For many years he was Head of Choral and Vocal Studies at the Centre for Young
Musicians and directs the Chamber Choir Course at the Charterhouse Summer School.
Ian retired from the Chorus after 40 years with a performance of Haydn's 'Nelson' Mass.
Ian is currently Honorary Vice-President
Michael Downes - January 2007 - July 2008
Michael Downes read English and Music at King's College, Cambridge and completed a doctorate on the music of Debussy at the University of Sussex. He studied the cello with teachers including Ioan Davies and Timothy Mason and conducting with teachers including Lionel Friend and
Colin Metters. He became Director of Music at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and has worked as a
conductor with numerous choral, operatic, orchestral and contemporary music groups in Sussex,
Kent, Cambridgeshire and London; he is the founding artistic director of the Bergamo Ensemble,
with whom he has conducted many well-respected premieres of work by young British composers.
Alongside his work as a conductor, Michael is active as a writer and lecturer on music.
He has lectured on music and opera for institutions including the Royal Opera House,
English National Opera, Glyndebourne, the Deal Festival and Ireland's Wexford Festival.
He regularly reviews music books for the Times Literary Supplement and is currently
writing a book on the music of Jonathan Harvey, to be published by Ashgate in 2009.
Michael is now Director of Music at St. Andrew's University.
