OUR MUSICIANS | Stanmore Choral Society

Stanmore Choral Society is led musically by two professional musicians:

Alexander Turner – Musical Director

Alexander Turner has been musical director of Stanmore Choral Society since April 2022. He has a reputation as a conductor for his choir-training skills, dynamic programming and community engagement. He is also director of music for Richmond Chamber Choir and at All Saints’ Church, Putney. He was formerly the conducting scholar at Westminster Cathedral.

Alex’s musical journey began as a chorister at Southwell Minster, followed by membership of the choirs of Norwich Cathedral, Royal Holloway and New College, Oxford. With New College he appeared as a soloist at Wigmore Hall in a performance of Purcell & Blow. He has performed across the UK as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Passions and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and internationally with professional choirs including the Sixteen, Sestina and Siglo de Oro. He continues to sing with the choirs of St Paul’s and Westminster cathedrals and Westminster Abbey.

Alex holds a prize-winning first-class degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, and recently completed a Master’s degree (with distinction) in choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Patrick Russill and Nic Chalmers. He has conducted the BBC Singers in masterclasses and received tuition from Sofi Jeannin, David Hill and Roland Börger. He was generously supported by the Academy, the Royal College of Organists and the Incorporated Association of Organists.

James Mooney-Dutton – Assistant Musical Director & Accompanist

James Mooney-Dutton was educated at the Royal College of Music where he studied with Margaret Phillips, and as a music scholar at Harrow School. He has held organ scholarships at Norwich Cathedral and the Royal Parish Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in central London. As a boy chorister at Westminster Abbey he sang at the funeral of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

As a recitalist James has performed in many venues in the UK and abroad such as St James’s Cathedral Toronto, Magdalen College Oxford, Queen’s College Oxford, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Norwich Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral and St Andrew’s Hall Norwich, as well as at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

He has also broadcast live on BBC Radios 3 and 4 and has appeared on Songs of Praise and Eastenders.

Having spent many years as a parish director of music, James now enjoys a varied freelance career as organist, accompanist and choral director. As well as being accompanist to Stanmore Choral Society, he has worked with Northwood, Fakenham and Ramsey choral societies.

When not engaged in all things musical, James can be found spending time his family and managing the family businesses – James Funeral Service in Harrow and Wisbech Funeral Service in Cambridgeshire.