Laurence Blyth

freelance choral director

About

Laurence Blyth was appointed Music Director of Wellington Choral Society in 20211 and recently stepped down from similar positions with Exmouth Choral Society (2011-2023) and Exeter Choral Society (2008-2023). He is a former director of the chamber choir In Ecclesia and for many years was the musical director of “Sing for Somerset” working with the Mid Somerset Orchestra and Somerset Voices at Wells Cathedral.

Educated at Norwich School, Laurence Blyth read music at the University of Exeter and conducted the University Singers. He subsequently graduated with a master’s degree in choral conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. At RWCMD his studies with Simon Halsey, Adrian Partington and Neil Ferris were supported by the Busenhart Morgan-Evans Foundation and the EMI Music Sound Foundation. He also conducted in masterclasses with Edward Caswell, Peter Broadbent, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, John Butt, Robert Dean and Eric Whitacre.

Laurence Blyth has also performed widely as a countertenor soloist, including works by Britten, Purcell, Mozart, Handel, Bach, Kodaly and Orff. He is a former member of Truro Cathedral Choir, Exeter Cathedral Choir and the Buckfast Abbey Choir.