Harry Christophers

Harry Christophers
Name	Harry Christophers
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth date	26 December 1953
Birth place	Goudhurst, Kent, England
Genre	Classical, Early music
Occupation	Conductor, Choral director
Associated acts	The Sixteen

Harry Christophers. He is a distinguished English conductor renowned for his pioneering work in the field of early music and choral performance. As the founder and artistic director of the acclaimed vocal ensemble The Sixteen, he has been instrumental in revitalizing interest in Renaissance and Baroque music through innovative concerts and a prolific recording catalog. His career is marked by significant artistic leadership roles, including his tenure as Principal Guest Conductor of the Granada City Orchestra and as Conductor Emeritus of the Boston Handel and Haydn Society.

Early life and education

Born in Goudhurst, Kent, he was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral under the direction of Allan Wicks. This formative experience in one of England's great cathedral music traditions provided a deep foundation in the choral repertoire. He later attended the King's School, Canterbury, where his musical education continued. His formal training was completed at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he sang as a choral scholar, further immersing himself in the rich tradition of British choral music.

Career

His professional career began with his founding of The Sixteen in 1979, which quickly became the central focus of his artistic life. Beyond this ensemble, he has held several prestigious conducting positions with major orchestras and festivals. He served as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Granada City Orchestra in Spain for over a decade and was the Conductor Emeritus of the Boston Handel and Haydn Society after a notable period as their Artistic Director. He has been a frequent guest conductor with renowned groups such as the BBC Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, appearing at major venues including the BBC Proms and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.

The Sixteen

He founded the ensemble in 1979, building it into one of the world's foremost period-instrument choirs and orchestras. Under his direction, The Sixteen is celebrated for its polished and expressive interpretations of music from the Tudor period to the present day. The ensemble's flagship project is the long-running "Choral Pilgrimage", an annual tour of cathedrals and churches across the United Kingdom. He also established the record label CORO to release the ensemble's extensive discography and founded the charitable Genesis Foundation Sixteen Foundation to support the training of young singers.

Recordings and repertoire

He has cultivated an extensive and award-winning discography primarily with The Sixteen on the CORO and Hyperion Records labels. This body of work includes complete cycles of the motets of Lassus and the madrigals of Monteverdi, as well as landmark recordings of Handel's Messiah and Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem. His repertoire, while rooted in early music, expansively includes works by Stravinsky, James MacMillan, and Arvo Pärt, demonstrating a significant commitment to contemporary composers.

Awards and honours

His work has been recognized with numerous major awards, including a Grammy Award nomination and multiple Gramophone Awards. In 2012, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to music. The ensemble under his direction received the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award and the coveted Gramophone Artist of the Year award. In 2018, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cultural life.

Personal life

He is married to the violinist and musicologist Julia Bishop, with whom he has two children. Residing in London, he maintains a strong connection to his roots in Kent. Beyond his conducting schedule, he is a dedicated advocate for music education and outreach, often participating in workshops and masterclasses. His personal interests include a passion for English literature and art history, which frequently informs his interpretive approach to musical works.

Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:English conductors (music) Category:Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire