John Bradbury, who founded Hampstead Chorus as the UCS Centenary Choir in 2008, sadly died on 27 November 2021.  Our sing-through of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, a piece we sang with John in 2009, was dedicated to his memory.

 

John Bradbury and Simon Walton 2018

John Bradbury with Simon Walton at our 10 year anniversary concert in 2018

John was born and educated in Cheshire. He held a Master of Arts degree from the University of London and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

His early musical training took place with Susan Buchan and Norman Baker and later with Roger Fisher at Chester Cathedral. He was awarded an ICI Scholarship to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire and then continued his post-graduate studies at the University of Birmingham. In 1981 he took up his first teaching post at Culford School near Bury St Edmunds and continued his organ studies with Harrison Oxley. In 1989 he was appointed to the post of Assistant Organist at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square.

In 1990, John took up a teaching post at University College School in London and in 2002 he was appointed Director of Music. He re-formed the school’s choral society, which was named the UCS Centenary Choir, in 2008 and directed us in many large-scale works. John was also Director of Music and Organist at St Mary-with-All-Souls, Kilburn.

After retiring from UCS, John moved to York, where he established the St. John’s Consort – a chamber choir whose membership is made up of singers from around the United Kingdom.   John also performed in several of the York city churches and the Minster as a recitalist, accompanist and conductor.