People
John Hancorn – Musical Director
John Hancorn has had an illustrious career in the world of Opera, Oratorio, recital and consort work. In addition to his busy concert diary, he has now established a firm reputation as a choral director and vocal animateur. He is Music Director of the East Sussex Bach Choir and The Baroque Collective, with whom he has directed many performances of baroque and classical choral repertoire. He is also closely associated with the Brighton Early Music Festival, and with Deborah Roberts is co-director of the BREMF Singers, with whom he has conducted Monteverdi “Vespers”, Bach “B Minor Mass” and Handel “Israel in Egypt”. In a more contemporary vein, he has directed the Orlando Consort in Tarik O’Regan “Scattered Rhymes”, and the world premiere of Orlando Gough’s opera, “The Finnish Prisoner” for the Paddock in Lewes. He also was assistant conductor in the recent Brighton Festival production of John Tavener’s “The Veil of the Temple”. He directed the ESBC with The Baroque Collective in Scarlatti Stabat Mater for 10 voices, Vivaldi Stabat Mater and Buxtehude Membra Jesu Nostri on Good Friday 2009.
John is also music director of Eastbourne Choral Society and The East Sussex Academy of Music ” Academy Voices”. He regularly leads vocal workshops and masterclasses, and is on the staff at Trinity College of Music, and Christ’s Hospital. He directs chamber choir courses at Dartington International Summer School, where he directed Bach “Christmas Oratorio” in summer 2009. He leads vocal workshops at Ardingly International Summer Music School. (Photograph by Lesley Aggar)
Sir John Tomlinson CBE – President
Born in Lancashire, John Tomlinson studied at the RNCM and with Otakar Kraus. He sings regularly with The Royal Opera and ENO, and has appeared with all the major British opera companies. John has sung at the Bayreuth Festival every year since 1988, as Wotan, the Wanderer, King Marke, Titurel, Gurnemanz, and Hagen. In the Bayreuth Festival 2003 he sang the Dutchman in the new Der Fliegende Holländer production. He has also appeared in Berlin (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Berlin State Opera), Geneva, Lisbon, Stuttgart, Vancouver, San Francisco, New York, Pittsburgh, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Bologna, Florence, Tokyo and the Orange, Aix-en-Provence and Salzburg festivals. His repertory includes Hans Sachs, Gurnemanz, Heinrich der Vogler, Hagen, Baron Ochs, Leporello, Claggart, King Fisher, Méphistophélès (Gounod’s Faust), the Villains (les Contes d’Hoffman), King Philip (Don Carlos) and the title roles in Oberto (also directed), Attila, Mosé in Egitto, Le nozze di Figaro, Boris Godunov and Duke Bluebeard’s Castle.
John has made many videos and audio recordings. He was made a CBE in 1997 and in 2005 was knighted in the Queens Birthday Honours List.
Alison Bury – Leader of The Baroque Collective
Alison Bury is well known in the field of baroque and classical performance on original instruments. She is a founder member and regular leader of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has appeared with them as soloist and director. In the 2003-4 season she directed a number of concerts with the OAE featuring Cecilia Bartoli. She is also the leader of the English Baroque Soloists.
Solo work includes performances and recordings with the Academy of Ancient Music, the Raglan Baroque Players and the Taverner Players.
The Baroque Collective, with whom the East Sussex Bach Choir usually perform, are an ensemble of musicians drawn from leading “original instrument” orchestras such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the English Baroque Soloists and the Gabrieli Consort. The Players are directed by Alison Bury.