Stephen Cleobury
1948 - 2019
British
Summary
Stephen Cleobury was for over thirty years associated with one of the world’s most famous choirs, that of King’s College, Cambridge. His work at King’s brought him into fruitful relationships with many leading orchestras and soloists, among them the Academy of Ancient Music, the Philharmonia and Britten Sinfonia and he worked with many artists – singers and instrumentalists – of international repute. Between 1995 and 2007 he was Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers where he relished the opportunity to showcase challenging contemporary music and gave a number of notable premieres, including Giles Swayne Havoc, Ed Cowie Gaia, and Francis Grier Passion, all these with the distinguished ensemble, Endymion. His many recordings with the BBC Singers include albums of Tippett, Richard Strauss and Bach. He remained active as an organist with performances around the world. At the American Guild of Organists’ Convention in Minneapolis-St Paul in 2008, he gave the première of Judith Bingham’s organ concerto, Jacob’s Ladder.
Biography
Stephen Cleobury was for over thirty years associated with one of the world’s most famous choirs, that of King’s College, Cambridge. His work at King’s brought him into fruitful relationships with many leading orchestras and soloists, among them the Academy of Ancient Music, the Philharmonia and Britten Sinfonia and he worked with many artists – singers and instrumentalists – of international repute. Between 1995 and 2007 he was Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers where he relished the opportunity to showcase challenging contemporary music and gave a number of notable premieres, including Giles Swayne Havoc, Ed Cowie Gaia, and Francis Grier Passion, all these with the distinguished ensemble, Endymion. His many recordings with the BBC Singers include albums of Tippett, Richard Strauss and Bach. He remained active as an organist with performances around the world. At the American Guild of Organists’ Convention in Minneapolis-St Paul in 2008, he gave the première of Judith Bingham’s organ concerto, Jacob’s Ladder.