Newcastle-based conductor and composer, Tim Burke, takes the reigns of our Choral Society (DUCS) following the retirement of John Forsyth MBE.
Tim joins the University from prominent roles at a number of high profile musical institutions. He is currently the Chorus Director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s Chorus, as is also the Musical Director of Tête à Tête Opera, producer of Britain's largest festival of new opera.
He has previously worked with a range of notable musical institutions across the British Isles, including as Opera Master at Opera North, and has held positions with both English and Welsh National Operas. His illustrious career within opera and choral music follows studies at Oxford University, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and early training at the Royal Opera House.
Tim is a passionate believer in the importance of new writing, and has a huge conducting repertoire to his name, with credits including Will Tuckett’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’, and Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’.
Tim is a dynamic and inspiring musical leader, with a deep understanding of choral music and a remarkable ability to engage singers with clarity, creativity, and warmth. His passion for bringing out the best in singers aligns perfectly with DUCS’ vision as a student-led, professionally conducted choir, and we’re so excited to be working with him across what promises to be an unforgettable year of music-making.
I loved working with Durham University Choral Society when we sang our choral version of Vaughan Williams’ ‘Tallis Fantasia’ in Durham Cathedral a couple of years ago - so I'm doubly excited to be taking over from local legend John Forsyth as their new Principal Conductor from this season. Our first concert is pretty exciting as well - it's a rare chance to experience Vaughan Williams' exquisite and harrowing plea for peace, dating from the late 1930s as the storm clouds gathered and the plight of so many people across the world was in freefall. If feels like right now is as good a time as any to echo his call for peace and reconciliation.
The student-led choral society is one of our oldest and largest musical ensembles. It brings together over 100 voices to take on ambitious, large-scale annual projects. Recent concerts have included Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its writing, and the National Big Bruckner Weekend alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
As well as being the only professionally conducted ensemble at the University, DUCS has cemented its sound as one of the finest in the region. They have been described by national newspaper The Guardian as producing a “gloriously warm and finely balanced” choral sound.
The choral society will be taking to the stage in Newcastle Cathedral in their first concert with Tim Burke at 7.45pm on Wednesday 19 November. They will perform Vaughan Williams’ poignant ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’ to offer a moment of haunting reflection in the winter season. Tickets are on sale now.
You can also catch them at the Carol Service in Durham Cathedral on Monday 1 December.
For a taster, watch a recording of their performance of Handel's 'Dixit Dominus' in Newcastle Cathedral last March:
Main image by Thomas Jackson.
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