David Lawrence
David Lawrence is one of the UK's most versatile choral conductors and currently holds the posts of Artistic Director of the Ulster Youth Choir, Choir Leader of the City of Birmingham Young Voices, Musical Director of the Cambridgeshire County Youth Choir, Assistant Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and is a regular guest chorusmaster of the Netherlands Radio Choir.
He has particular experience in the world of contemporary music, having prepared and conducted first performances of works by a host of composers, including Karlheinz Stockhausen, Iannis Xenakis, Mauricio Kagel (second performance), Graham Fitkin, James Wood, Bob Chilcott and Stanley Glasser. Amongst other projects in 2005, David prepared a new 30 minute work by Per Nørgård for the CBSC, was a chorusmaster of a new version of Visages Nuptiales by Pierre Boulez and conducts at performances of James Wood's new opera about Hildegard de Bingen at festivals throughout England and Wales.
His work has taken him to India, Canada, South America and twelve European countries. David has worked for most of the UK's choral organisations, is a popular leader of choral workshops and a well known trainer of choral conductors. He has adjudicated at international choral festivals as well as for the BBC Choir of the Year Competition. David also conducts for BBC Television's 'Songs of Praise' programme and has conducted live broadcasts for both BBC and ITV.
As Principal Conductor of Young Voices he directs massed voices in an annual series of rock concerts, with some choirs incorporating over 8,000 singers, and consequently holds the Guinness World Record for conducting the UK's largest choir. In 2005 David directed workshops in Queensland, Australia, directed the Cambridgeshire Youth Choir in a series of concerts in Paris and conducted the CBYV at a special concert in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace.