Our Musical Director

James Llewelyn Jones

James' passion for choral music was enriched at a young age as a member of the National Youth

Choirs of both Wales and Great Britain, he was also a founder member of the National Chamber

Choir. His musical education continued in Birmingham where he gained his B Mus (Hons) and M Mus

degrees with distinction.

James conducted the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain for 11 years; his initiatives saw the

formation of the National Children’s Training Choir and also the National Girls Chamber Choir of

Great Britain.

He has conducted some of the world's leading childrens choirs, the European Union Children’s

Chorus, Hungary; Canzonetta Children’s Choirs of Manchester (formerly the Manchester Boys’ Choir);

Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, Chicago and has undertaken several invitations from the Toronto

Children’s Chorus - firmly regarded as the foremost children's choir ensemble.

In 2006, James succeeded D. Clive Griffiths M.B.E as Director of Canoldir Male Choir and led the choir

for 17 years. Under his direction the choir achieved an outstanding record of success in the

competitive arena.

James has toured extensively throughout Europe and to America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand

with notable performances in the Cathedrals of Barcelona; Notre Dame, Paris; St. Mary's, Sydney; St.

Stephen's, Brisbane and St. Mark's Basilica, Venice and Cologne Cathedral.

He is in demand as a choral clinician and workshop leader. At the invitation of International

Choral Federations, he has led workshops in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Auckland and in

Vancouver, Toronto and Chicago when he conducted a massed symposium of over 400 children.

James was also a guest conductor with the City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus, and under

his direction the Senior Choirs and Chamber Choir from Edgbaston High School for Girls performed to

great acclaim and were invited to be Guest Artistes for Hayley Westenra’s ‘Christmas Wishes Concert’

at Symphony Hall.

He’s Musical Director of The Midlands Hospitals' Choir and The Phoenix Singers, Bournville and in

2016 became the Musical Director of the Rhos Male Voice Choir, one the most successful and

famous of the Welsh choirs. Last August they triumphed again at the National Eisteddfod of Wales,

winning the coveted National Male Voice Choir Competition. James also received the Ivor E Sims

Memorial Medal, conductor’s prize for his work with the choir.

In 2017 James had the unbelievable honour of singing solo on stage with Coldplay in the finale of their

concert at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, in front of 78,000 people!