West London Chorus & Hilary Campbell
Biography West London Chorus & Hilary Campbell
Hilary Campbell
is a British choral conductor based in London. She is Associate Conductor of Ex Cathedra, and her guest work includes directing and preparing ensembles such as the BBC Symphony Chorus, whom she prepared for a performance of Mozart's Mass in C Minor at the Proms (see reviews here), The BBC Singers, Trinity Laban Chamber Choir, the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Chorus, BBC Radio 4’s Daily Service Singers, the University of Greenwich Choir and the New London Singers. She is Musical Director and Founder of professional chamber choir Blossom Street, and Musical Director of Bristol Choral Society, Chiswick Choir and West London Chamber Choir; she also runs projects with Master of the Queen's Music Judith Weir at the Royal Academy of Music, in conjunction with Blossom Street and the RAM composition department. In addition, she is conductor of P&O Ferries Choir, the group which won the BBC2 show The Choir, whom she met whilst filming for the series. In 2021, Hilary was honoured to be awarded the Making Music 'best vocal group music director' prize.
Hilary gained a Distinction for an MMus in Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, and was awarded the three choral conducting prizes. At the RAM, she studied choral conducting with Patrick Russill, Paul Brough and Cathal Garvey, singing with Julie Kennard and composition with Ruth Byrchmore. She gained a Distinction for an MA in Vocal Studies at the University of York, and undertook an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in singing at Trinity College of Music. Following her studies, she returned to the RAM as the Meaker Fellow 2012-13, the first choral conductor to have been thus honoured, and in 2019 was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM). She now works there as a BMus tutor. In addition to her regular conducting work, Hilary also acts as an adjudicator, choral workshop leader and guest conductor. She is a founder member of the Voices of London Festival, and cofounder of music workshop scheme VOCALIZE. With Blossom Street, she has released award winning Naxos recordings, and she is also a published and prize-winning composer.
Hilary has conducted in the UK, Japan, Spain, France, Sweden and Germany, as well as on BBC2, Channel 4, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4. Her debut disc with Blossom Street, Sleep, Holy Babe, was awarded the Classic FM Christmas Disc of the Year 2011. Blossom Street's second disc, Down by the Sea, was released in 2013 to critical acclaim ("At the risk of prejudicing any latecomers and with 2013 barely half gone, I declare this release to be my choral album of the year. I’d be stupefied if anything stronger comes long. …Terrific stuff" Norman Lebrecht), as were their more recent recordings, A Short While for Dreaming ("Gorgeous sound; highly engaging, dedicated performances." BBC Music Magazine), This Day ("Blossom Street under Campbell’s direction gives committed performances, strong, flexible and sure-toned" ★★★★BBC Music Magazine ) and Arnold Rosner: The Masses (“Impeccably phrased, with superb intonation and ensemble, directed with assurance by Hilary Campbell” ★★★★★ Musical Opinion) Previously, she held the post of Musical Director of Dorking Choral Society, Harpenden Music Makers, Streatham Voices and Blackheath Conservatoire's choirs, and Assistant Conductor of Barts Choir. She also worked for Music In Offices, conducting a number of workplace choirs.
