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Nick Austin - Music Director

Nick Austin is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied under Carola Grindea and Harold Dexter.

Nick has been Musical Director of Aylesbury Festival Choir since January 2017. Works performed include Mozart’s Sparrow Mass, Mendelssohn’s Lauda Sion, Brahms’ Requiem and Rutter’s The Sprig of Thyme. Under his direction, AFC have also performed concerts of Choral Classics, Operatic Choruses and Songs from the Shows.

Nick took up the baton at Amchor (Amersham & Chesham Bois Choral Society) in September 2018. His first concert was Mozart’s Requiem with the New Mozart Orchestra. Other major works performed since then have been Poulenc’s Gloria, Duruflé’s Requiem, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna.

Nick has conducted the chamber choir Thames Voyces since January 2013. Works performed include Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Bach’s Jesu meine freude, Rutter’s Gloria, Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G minor and Bruckner’s Mass in E minor.

Nick was Musical Director of Stanmore Choral Society from 2006 to 2018. Performances during that time included Jenkins' The Armed Man, Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Creation, Mozart's Requiem, Britten's St Nicolas, Faure's Requiem, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, and Orff’s Carmina Burana in a joint concert with Thames Voyces.

An avid show tune lover, Nick was Musical Director for the Crowthorne Musical Players from 1988 to 2016. Productions included Hello, Dolly!, Guys and Dolls, Carousel, Pirates of Penzance (Broadway Version), Oklahoma, Singin' in the Rain and Fiddler on the Roof. In 2015 he was Musical Director for Reading Operatic Society in their production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The show received 3 nominations from the National Operatic & Dramatic Association including ‘Best Chorus’.

Nick has been rehearsal pianist for the Bracknell Choral Society since 1981. He regularly accompanies and plays continuo in their concerts. He is also an occasional accompanist for Walton & Weybridge Amateur Operatic Society.

In his spare time, Nick enjoys arranging and composing, particularly for amateur choral groups.