A confident new chapter for the BBC Singers — and a timely nod to substance, integrity, and leadership in choral music.
There are press releases and then there are press releases. The former trigger mild stress as you ponder how to respond; the latter uplift. Writing the latter are easy and a pleasure. So it is the case with the news announced today concerning Owain Park’s new gig as Chief Conductor role at the BBC Singers.
His appointment double underlines the end of the BBC Singers ‘era of uncertainty’, signalling commitment for the future after the much-needed partnership (masking the Corporation’s actual U-turn) with VOCES8 Foundation stopping the vocal group being summarily ditched.
More than that, it’s a timely reminder of how little time has passed since the Cambridge music graduate was at St John’s Smith Square with his group Geraldo Six, in the first heady days of socially-distanced concerts mid-COVID. Back then, they were a relatively new group on the scene (or at least it felt so). They also happened to know exactly how to do so social media, successfully treading the fine line between performative nonsense and authentic advocacy so many others fail to even see.
Park’s appointment as Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers in 2022 came not on the basis of social media reach, but craft and integrity. He’s clearly well-liked (useful in an industry which has historically had it’s fair share of difficult so-and-sos to contend with), and has a proven track record in creating good stuff. His next appearance with the BBC Singers is on 9th October at Milton Court with Nigerian-Scottish trumpeter, Aaron Azunda Akugbo.
