Stephen Layton
Encyclopedia
Stephen Layton is an English
conductor
.
Layton was raised in Derby
, where his father was a church organist. Layton learned the piano as a youth. He was a chorister at Winchester Cathedral
, and subsequently won scholarships to Eton College
and then King's College, Cambridge
as an organ scholar
.
Layton founded the mixed-voice choir Polyphony
in 1986. He has conducted Polyphony in commercial recordings for such labels as Hyperion, including music of Gabriel Jackson
, Paweł Łukaszewski, Francis Poulenc
and John Tavener
. He was appointed the musical director of the Holst Singers in 1993, replacing Hilary Davan Wetton
, who had founded the group in 1978. Layton has served as assistant organist at Southwark Cathedral
and musical director of Wokingham
Choral Society. Beginning in 1997, he served as organist and subsequently director of music at the Temple Church
. Layton has conducted the BBC Singers
, and was offered the chief conductorship of the ensemble in 2005, but the BBC
withdrew the offer after objections from the singers themselves. In 2006, he became Director of Music at Trinity College, Cambridge
. In November 2009, the City of London Sinfonia
announced the appointment of Layton as its second Artistic Director, effective with the 2010-2011 season, for an initial contract of 3 years. Layton is also to have the title of Principal Conductor.
In Europe, Layton became chief conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Choir in January 2002. He has also served as chief guest conductor of the Danish National Choir.
In private life, Layton is an Anglican.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Layton was raised in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, where his father was a church organist. Layton learned the piano as a youth. He was a chorister at Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
, and subsequently won scholarships to Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and then King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
as an organ scholar
Organ scholar
An organ scholar is a young musician employed as a part-time assistant organist at an institution where regular choral services are held. The idea of an organ scholarship is to provide the holder with playing, directing and administrative experience....
.
Layton founded the mixed-voice choir Polyphony
Polyphony (choir)
Polyphony is a small English choir formed by Stephen Layton for one particular concert put on in King's College, Cambridge in 1986. They have released many critically acclaimed recordings, the most recent of which is Bruckner - Mass in E Minor and Motets. They record and perform a wide range of...
in 1986. He has conducted Polyphony in commercial recordings for such labels as Hyperion, including music of Gabriel Jackson
Gabriel Jackson
Gabriel Jackson is an American Hispanist, historian and journalist. He was born in New York. He is a leading authority on the Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War. Since his retirement he has lived in Barcelona, Spain....
, Paweł Łukaszewski, Francis Poulenc
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was a French composer and a member of the French group Les six. He composed solo piano music, chamber music, oratorio, choral music, opera, ballet music, and orchestral music...
and John Tavener
John Tavener
Sir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
. He was appointed the musical director of the Holst Singers in 1993, replacing Hilary Davan Wetton
Hilary Davan Wetton
Hilary Davan Wetton is a British conductor.-Biography:He is Musical Director of three major choirs . He is Conductor Emeritus of the Milton Keynes City Orchestra and of the Guildford Choral Society which he conducted from 1968 - 2008...
, who had founded the group in 1978. Layton has served as assistant organist at Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
and musical director of Wokingham
Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England about west of central London. It is about east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403...
Choral Society. Beginning in 1997, he served as organist and subsequently director of music at the Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
. Layton has conducted the BBC Singers
BBC Singers
The BBC Singers are the professional chamber choir of the BBC. As one of six BBC Performing Groups, the 24-voiced choir has been in existence for more than 80 years. The BBC Singers have commissioned and premiered works by the leading composers of the past century, including Benjamin Britten, Sir...
, and was offered the chief conductorship of the ensemble in 2005, but the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
withdrew the offer after objections from the singers themselves. In 2006, he became Director of Music at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. In November 2009, the City of London Sinfonia
City of London Sinfonia
The City of London Sinfonia is an English chamber orchestra based in London. In London, the CLS performs regularly at Cadogan Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. It is also the resident orchestra at Opera Holland Park. The CLS has annual residencies in four towns in Southern England: Ipswich, King's...
announced the appointment of Layton as its second Artistic Director, effective with the 2010-2011 season, for an initial contract of 3 years. Layton is also to have the title of Principal Conductor.
In Europe, Layton became chief conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Choir in January 2002. He has also served as chief guest conductor of the Danish National Choir.
In private life, Layton is an Anglican.
External links
- Official website of Stephen Layton
- Official website of Polyphony
- Official website of the Holst Singers
- Trinity College Cambridge page on Stephen Layton
- Wokingham Choral Society history page
- Netherlands Chamber Choir English-language history page