 |
| James Burton conducting Ex Cathedra at Birmingham City Corridor 2025 |
Ex Cathedra, the Birmingham-based choir, has introduced that its founder Jeffrey Skidmore will retire as Creative Director in Autumn 2027 after 57 years, with James Burton becoming a member of the organisation in Spring 2026 as Creative Director Designate, marking a significant management transition for the choir.
Burton not too long ago spent eight seasons as Choral Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Tanglewood Competition Refrain, and 4 years as Director of Orchestral Actions at Boston College’s School of Tremendous Arts. Now based mostly within the UK, Burton made his debut with Ex Cathedra in a live performance in Birmingham City Corridor in October 2025.
He carried out the Schola Cantorum of Oxford for 15 years and based each the Hallé Youth Choir and the Boston Symphony Kids’s Choir. His previous management roles embrace serving as Choral Director of the Hallé, and Music Director of the St. Endellion Easter Competition. His compositions are printed by Version Peters.
The 2026-27 season will probably be Jeffrey Skidmore’s 57th and ultimate season as Creative Director and Conductor, after which he’ll develop into Founder and Conductor Emeritus. Ex Cathedra will rejoice his extraordinary legacy with a collection of concert events highlighting the repertoire for which the choir has develop into internationally famend, starting with a French Baroque programme on 15 February 2026, coinciding along with his seventy fifth birthday.
Additional particulars on the Ex Cathedra web site.
