James Morley Potter
conductor & choral director
James is a prize-winning British conductor and choral director. He is currently Precentor and Director of Music at Magdalene College, Cambridge, directing the College Choir in its regular services, concerts, and tours, in addition to a busy freelance portfolio.
In 2023, he was awarded second prize in the international Northern Choirs Conducting Competition in Svendborg, Denmark, conducting the Danish National Vocal Ensemble in rehearsal and performance. He is also a prize-winning recipient of the Choral Directing Diploma of the Royal College of Organists. Having read Music at The Queen’s College, University of Oxford, he went on to study conducting with Paul Brough, as well as in masterclasses with Paul Spicer, David Hill, Patrick Russill, Simon Carrington, and Nils Schweckendiek.
James has been Music Director of the New Cambridge Singers since January 2024. In September 2025, he will take up a role as Music Director of Harlow Chorus. Upcoming projects include MacMillan Seven Last Words from the Cross with London Mozart Players, and Mendelssohn Elijah with British Sinfonietta.
A keen advocate for new and under-explored music, he has commissioned new work from Grayston Ives, Sarah Rimkus, Becky McGlade, Ben Ponniah, Ben Rowarth, Alison Willis, and Bertie Baigent, and premiered compositions by Roderick Williams, Nick Bicat, Danyal Dhondy, Solfa Carlile, and Paul Burke, and student composers, as well as masterminding composition competitions, commissioning initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaborations. He works regularly with the new music charity Cantata Dramatica. Recording projects have included a well-received survey of music by the Restoration-era polymath Henry Aldrich, on Convivium Records.
Other conducting positions have included as Music Director of Wokingham Choral Society, Jubilate Chamber Choir, and his own professional ensemble, Eleutherios. He has worked with leading period-instrument groups including Instruments of Time and Truth, Oxford Bach Soloists, and Orfeo Futuro.
In 2024 he became co-Director of the University of Cambridge’s new Choral Foundation Scheme, aiming to provide musicianship and singing training to students who have not previously had access to choral training. Further educational work includes teaching conducting and musicianship to undergraduates at the University of Cambridge, Chapel Music Advisor to Hertford College, Oxford, and lecture-workshops for the Choral Institute at Oxford and the Continuing Education Department of the University of Oxford.
An experienced church musician, James has held directorial positions including with the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, St Mary’s Church, Battersea, and Pusey House, Oxford. Whilst in Oxford he sang professionally for the choirs of Christ Church Cathedral and Magdalen College, including on live BBC Radio broadcasts, recordings, and international tours, as well as in London’s top professional church choirs.
A passionate musical communicator, he frequently contributes programme notes and essays to festivals, periodicals, and ensembles including The Tallis Scholars.
Contact James using the form below, or email jamesmpotter[@]gmail.com
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James Morley Potter 