Singing Teachers
John Powell
Born in London and educated in Somerset and at Cambridge University, John Powell has spent much of his life in Manchester. His musical activities have always centered around choirs and singers and he devotes most of his time to conducting, singing and teaching. Until 1988 he was head of Choral Music at Chetham’s School of Music. He now teaches privately and at Bolton school as well as being a tutor with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.
John was, for fifteen years, Director of the Bolton Chamber Choir and has also been a Guest Conductor with Fleetwood Choral Society. He conducts his own chamber choir, the John Powell Singers, and works with various other groups, including Bolton Festival Choir. Last summer he was responsible for training 300 singers from the North West for a performance of Mahler’s 8th Symphony at the Bridgewater Hall.
A member of the BBC Northern Singers since 1975, and a founder member of the Britten Singers, John has sung on radio, television and disc, and at the Proms, Aldeburgh and Harrogate Festivals as well as touring extensively abroad. He also sings with the BBC Daily Service Singers. He performs in recitals and oratorio and particularly enjoys exploring new repertoire.
Writing music for choirs is a growing part of John’s musical activities - several of his folksong arrangements for chamber choirs have recently been published. A new work for girls’ voices was premiered in July 2001 at the RNCM.
