Lloyd Buck
Our conductor Lloyd Buck studied at the Royal College of Music in London, and later at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he graduated with distinction under the tutelage of Paul Janes.
Since his appointment in 2013, Lloyd has challenged us with a wide range of programmes, including some new and exciting music – notably Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of The Year in May 2014, and Bob Chilcott’s Five Days that Changed the World in May 2019, both performed to great acclaim.
A recent highlight was the choir’s performance of Bruckner’s rarely performed ‘Mass in D Minor’, which they gave in Bramhall in March 2023. Splendidly accompanied by the Cheadle Hulme based orchestra, Musica Nova, and using four professional soloists, the performance was dramatic and exhilarating for all that were present. The mammoth programme that evening also included Haydn’s famous ‘Nelson’ Mass. The concert was a real tour de force for choir and orchestra alike. Audience response was rapturous: “Absolutely fantastic, very tight and superbly conducted”; “Exhilarating! Huge sound, exciting stuff, magnificent choir…”
Lloyd says, “Whilst I intend to uphold the tradition of singing some of the great choral masterpieces, I aim to continue broadening the Choir’s repertoire with new works by both familiar and less familiar composers. However, I guarantee it will all be fun to sing! If you’ve ever enjoyed singing, do come and give the Choir a try. The members are all very friendly and will make you feel immediately welcome”.
In addition to his position with the Barnby Choir, Lloyd is Musical Director of the Ellesmere Port Music Society, whom he has conducted in performances with the Wirral Philharmonic Orchestra and the 18th Century Sinfonia. With them, he recently gave what is believed to be the UK premiere of the manuscripts of Mozart’s Requiem – that is, the work exactly as Mozart left it the day that he died. He followed this with a performance of the work as completed by Robert D. Levin, of which he is a great proponent. Lloyd is also deputy conductor and accompanist for Vocal Expressions – a ladies’ choir based near Holmfirth.
Lloyd is also a virtuoso piano soloist, accompanist and composer. One of his choral motets appears on the CD Excelsior, released by Amemptos Music , a small company based in the Derbyshire Peak District. Amemptos Music have also released CDs of Lloyd playing the piano music of the Ukrainian composer Bortkiewicz, and the French Jewish composer Charles-Valentin Alkan. For more information see Lloyd Buck.
