Nick Houghton: choral conductor and accompanist

I have been fortunate to have conducted a number of choirs and fixed players for hundreds of concerts over the years and this has allowed me to work with many fine musicians including James Bowman, Emma Kirkby, Alison Bury, Judy Tarling and Anthony Halstead.

Currently I conduct the Lewes Singers, a small hand-picked group who give occasional concerts and sing weekend services at Cathedrals and Abbeys in England. We have been engaged to sing in Westminster Abbey in July 2011.

I also conduct the Lewes Chamber Choir. Its members meet once a month to sing mainly for their own enjoyment, with a focus on Renaissance music.

Last year I became conductor of the East Sussex Community Choir , now thriving with nearly 90 members and enjoying a wide range of music.

For 15 years I conducted the Downland Chorale, a 50 strong choir based in Surrey, and before that I was music director of the Reading Haydn Choir for 8 years. During this time I conducted a considerable amount of the chamber choir repertoire, and introduced both choirs to 'period' performance of such works as Monteverdi Vespers of 1610, Bach Mass in B minor and Bach St.John and St.Matthew Passions.

On occasions the choirs joined forces with others to perform larger works such as Elgar Dream of Gerontius and Walton Belshazaar's Feast (which I conducted alongside Walton Symphony No.1).

Over the years I have taken various ensembles on tours abroad to sing concerts in France, Germany, Ireland, the Czech Republic and the USA.

Since settling in Lewes in 2001 I have scaled down my regular choir commitments but continue to provide ad hoc cover for several ensembles including Eastbourne Choral Society and the East Sussex Bach Choir. I am a regular guest conductor of the Brighton Singers and a frequent rehearsal accompanist for the Brighton Early Music Festival Singers and Brighton Festival Chorus. I am also Associate Organist at the church of St Mary de Haura, Shoreham.