Our Conductor and Musical Director

Richard Roddis is well known throughout the East Midlands for his work with choirs. His conducting experience stretches back more than a quarter of a century and, as a professional singer and a member of several top choirs, he brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to choral conducting. 

Richard has become an expert exponent of the chamber choir repertoire, working with Exeter University Singers in the 1980s, and currently with the Sinfonia Chorale, the Derwent Singers, the Derby Bach Choir and his own choir the Richard Roddis Singers, which has operated annually since 1980. He was appointed Director of the Sinfonia Chorale in June 1991. As a conductor, he has broadcast on BBC and Independent TV and Radio, and toured both in the UK and Europe. He pursues an ambitious and wide-ranging programme, selecting challenging repertoire, championing neglected works, and constantly demanding the highest standards in performance. He also composes and arranges for choirs. 

As a solo tenor, Richard is much in demand nationwide in oratorio and recital. Recent and future engagements include the Bach Passions (Evangelist), Britten St Nicolas, Monteverdi Vespers, Schubert Die schöne Müllerin, Schumann Dichterliebe. During 2001, two CD recordings were issued: one entitled Songs of Joy and Woe includes Dichterliebe and English song, in which he is accompanied by Clive Pollard, and one of solo songs by contemporary composer Patrick Larley. 

Richard won Joint First Prize for his Lieder singing in a national competition staged by the London Lieder Group in December 2001. The event attracted 265 entrants from whom eight finalists were judged by Graham Johnson and Anthony Rolfe Johnson. 

Richard also writes music. Several of his compositions and arrangements have been performed by the Sinfonia Chorale, including Carolling Nowell and Pietà.

The Derby Bach Choir performed the première of his large scale work Lauda Creatoris on the 4th April 2009.

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