Alexander Chaplin was appointed MD of East London Chorus in April 2009. He was educated as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral and held organ scholarships at Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln College, Oxford, before studying conducting at the Royal College of Music from where he graduated with distinction.
Alexander is also Musical Director of Harlow Chorus and Wokingham Choral Society, and a Lecturer at Morley College, London; in May 2010 he took up the post of Director of Music at Hinde Street Methodist Church, London. His performing diary contains engagements in the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Ely Cathedral and at the Thaxted Festival, and broadcasts on BBC Radio.
Musical Team
Our Conductor
Our Accompanist
Julian Collings was educated as an organ scholar at Tonbridge School in Kent, before winning an organ scholarship to Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1999. He gained the associateship diploma of the Royal College of Organists whilst still at Tonbridge studying under Thomas Trotter and Sarah Baldock. He continued his organ studies in Cambridge with David Sanger, graduating with a music degree in the summer of 2002. During his time at Christ’s, Julian accompanied the college choir on tour to Scandinavia, the USA and Canada both as organist and conductor, as well as playing on a number of critically-acclaimed CD releases.
Julian is currently organist at St Augustine’s Church in South Kensington and regularly deputises as an organist at St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street. In addition to his church work, Julian is Musical Director of the London chamber choir Ad Libitum, repetiteur to the East London Chorus and also directs a versatile vocal group called Con Brio who specialise in the provision of entertainment for corporate functions. He is organ tutor at Forest School and teaches privately throughout the London area.
As a recitalist he has performed extensively both in the UK and overseas as well as broadcasting for BBC radio. Recent recital engagements have included Sheffield Cathedral, St Alban’s Abbey and St John’s College Cambridge as well as a number of recitals around the Channel Islands and France. As organist with Svyati Duo, he regularly collaborates with cellist, Rebecca Hewes, performing concerts in the UK, Europe and the United States. A new CD is now available.
