James Morley Potter is a choral conductor in high demand in Great Britain for good reason…
Association of Anglican Musicians
James has recently been appointed Director of Music and Precentor at Magdalene College, Cambridge, in addition to a busy freelance career as a conductor and choral director.
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, and Bertie Baigent, and premiered compositions by Roderick Williams, 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.
An experienced church musician, James has held directorial positions including with the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, St Mary’s Church, Battersea, and Pusey House, Oxford. Whilst in Oxford he sang professionally for the choirs of Christ Church Cathedral and Magdalen College, including on live BBC Radio broadcasts, recordings, and international tours, as well as in London’s top church choirs.
As a writer on music, he frequently contributes programme notes and essays to festivals, periodicals, and ensembles including The Tallis Scholars.
James Morley Potter 