Musical Director - Julian Collings
Julian was educated as an organ scholar at Tonbridge School in Kent, before winning an organ scholarship to Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1999, studying under Thomas Trotter and David Sanger. He is currently Director of Music at St Cyprian's Church, Clarence Gate, a post which he combines with a busy freelance performing schedule.
Photo Credit to Simon Weir
Much in demand as a choral director, he conducts numerous choirs in London including the Barnes Choir, Epsom Choral Society and Teddington Choral Society. He also works regularly with Aliqui Chamber Choir and is founding musical director of the much acclaimed Arcubus Ensemble.
As an organ recitalist he has performed extensively both in the UK and overseas as well as broadcasting for BBC radio and television. Recent recital engagements have included Portsmouth Cathedral, St Alban’s Abbey and St John’s College Cambridge in addition to concerts in the Channel Islands, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Holland and Estonia.
As organist with Svyati Duo, he regularly collaborates with cellist, Rebecca Hepplewhite, performing concerts in the UK, Europe, Asia and the United States of America. The duo have three critically acclaimed recordings to their name on the Regent Records label and have commissioned a number of new works by leading UK composers.
Julian also performs organ duets with Benedict Lewis-Smith as the Oxbridge Organ Duo - recent engagements have included Kristiansand Cathedral in Norway and the Victoria International Arts Festival in Gozo. Their debut recording of Stravinsky's Firebird in a transcription by Guy Bovet was released in 2018 to unanimous critical acclaim.
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Accompanist - Greg May
Gregory May is a pianist and composer with a particular interest in playing new music. He has just completed his master’s studies in composition with Matthew Kaner at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, generously supported by a Guildhall Scholarship, a Vaughan Williams Bursary, and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Photo Credit to Emily Renier.
He previously studied at the junior department of the Royal Academy of Music on a scholarship, where he undertook joint first study in piano and composition, learning piano with Fiona Harris, and composition with David Knotts and Edmund Jolliffe. Whilst at RAM, Greg was the recipient of the Gareth Walters Composition Prize in 2019, and was highly commended in the Iris Dyer piano competition in the same year. In 2020 he was a winner in the BBC Young Composer Competition, which resulted in a commission for the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Greg went on to read music at Clare College Cambridge, where he graduated with a Double First in 2023. Whilst at Clare, he studied composition with Christian Mason and piano with Rolf Hind, and also sang in Clare College Choir, taking part in multiple CD recordings and tours. He was a winner of the 2021 Clare College Composition Competition. In 2023 Greg, together with his duo partner Hannah Dienes-Williams, performed Messiaen's Harawi at the Paris Conservatoire as part of a project uncovering the work of Messiaen's second wife, Yvonne Loriod.
As a composer, Greg's music has been played in countries including Croatia, Germany, and the USA, as well as UK venues including King's Place, Smith Square Hall, Milton Court Concert Hall, West Road Concert Hall, and Kettle's Yard. His work has been played by ensembles and soloists including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Mithras Trio, Plus-Minus Ensemble, EXAUDI, the choirs of Clare College Cambridge and Guildford Cathedral, the Rothko Collective, and Rolf Hind, and has been broadcast on multiple occasions on BBC Radio 3.