The St. John of Jerusalem Festival Chorus was founded in 1997 by James Funnell, the then rector, and his son Simon. We continue under the musical direction of our conductor, John Andrews, supported by Timothy Kwan and Victoria Hay, and assistant conductor WeiHsi Hu.
John Andrews – Conductor
Since winning the special 'Orchestra Prize' at the Bela Bartok Opera Conducting Competition in 2005, John Andrews has been increasingly in demand for his musical fluency, passion and skill.
In addition to a busy concert schedule, this year he is conducting Tolomeo (Handel) for English Touring Opera, Cosě fan tutte (Mozart) for English Camber Opera, Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck) at St John's Smith Square, The Barber of Seville at Stanley Hall Opera and Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Handel) for Opera de Baugé. After a well-received performance of La Cenerentola (Rossini) in 2009, he will be returning to Garsington Opera to work on Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart).
John conducts several amateur choirs and orchestras, and this year will conduct The Magic Flute (Mozart) in a performance at Glyndbourne Opera House with a cast ranging from professional singers to lawyers and children from Stepney schools.
WEIHSI HU - ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
WeiHsi was previously a choral conductor in Canada for 12 years, most recently as Artistic Director of Folsom Singers, a women's choir in Vancouver.
His conducting career started as Assistant Conductor to Bruce Pallan at the Vancouver Bach Children's Chorus and at the same time as Music Director of New Westminster United Church in 1999. Since then WeiHsi has worked extensively with children's and youth voices, including ensembles such as the British Columbia Boys' Choir.
WeiHsi studied conducting with Bruce Pullan and Leonard Ratzlaff at the University of British Columbia and University of Alberta. He also studied orchestral conducting with Kenneth Kiesler at the Medomak Conductors' Retreat and with Colin Metters at the Royal Academy of Music Spring Conducting Masterclasses.
Timothy Kwan – Organ/Piano
Timothy began his musical studies in piano and violin as a child after being inspired by the school orchestra in the Christmas concert. At the age of 11 he was accepted into Trinity College of Music for Juniors (Junior Trinity) where he studied the viola. Later Tim accepted a music scholarship to The Royal Hospital School in Ipswich. Tim has just finished his final year at Trinity College of Music studying the organ with Ian Curror, and is currently Director of Music at St Mary of Eton in Hackney Wick and organist at the Middlesex New Synagogue, Harrow on the Hill.
Victoria Hay – Organ
Victoria was born in Melbourne, Australia, where she first studied piano with Meryl Ross at the University of Melbourne. Since moving to London, she has been studying the organ with Gerard Brooks. As well as being the organist at Allen Hall, she is also organist at St. Paul's Harringay and one of a team at St. Mary's, Theydon Bois. In her spare time she teaches organ and piano, directs and accompanies various choirs and gives the occasional organ recital.