Brian Northcott

Brian Northcott - Musical Director, West Barok

Brian studied singing with Alfred Deller and Gerald English, and also keyboard and conducting while at the Royal College of Music, with composition studies with the English composer Bernard Stevens completing the picture.

His professional life has been equally spread between teaching and performing but having taken early retirement from being Head of Music at the University of Plymouth in 1996 opportunities for more performing and conducting have become an enjoyable adjunct to examining all over the world for Trinity/Guildhall.

Conducting and working with many groups over a number of years including founding the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra, most recent work has been with The Consort of Twelve, Exmouth and Ottery choral societies and Exeter Symphony Orchestra.

Further invitations have come in from as far as Malaysia and most recently this easter with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra in India. An invitation to Sri Lanka is also in the offing.

Specialist areas are the music of the baroque and 20th century and recent performances have included first UK performances of some of the choral works of Jan Dismas Zelenka whose Missa Omnium Sanctorum West Barok performed last year and the Missa Dei Patris is in preparation for next year.