Thomas Leech
Musical Director
Thomas Leech, our Musical Director since 2008, enjoys a reputation as an outstanding and inspirational choral director and organist. As the Director of the Diocese of Leeds’ internationally acclaimed Schools Singing Programme he directs one of the most innovative and successful choral programmes in the country, involving some 50 schools and nearly 3000 children weekly, with its choirs broadcasting regularly on BBC radio and enjoying international competition and concert success. Tom combines this with frequent appearances as a guest conductor and workshop leader, with recent projects as diverse as Paco Peña’s flamenco Requiem por la Tierra, Britten War Requiem, Mahler Symphony 8, Verdi Requiem, the choral soundtrack for the film London Fields, Leeds College of Music Chamber Choir and Gabrieli Consort and Players’ youth choir programme, Gabrieli Roar. His numerous recording credits include the complete choral works of Duruflé and complete organ works of Arvo Pärt for Brilliant Classics and he has broadcast on BBC1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Classic FM and Radio France. His educational work has most recently been recognised by the Worshipful Company of Educators’ Masters’ Award.
For more information visit his website www.thomasleech.com and follow him on twitter @thomas_leech
‘Leech’s outstanding performance…these performances would meet with Pärt’s unqualified approval’ [gramophone]
‘Leech steers his choir to extract as much as possible from Durufle’s perfumed harmonic writing’ [choir and organ]
Christopher Pulleyn
Assistant Musical Director
Christopher Pulleyn, our accompanist and Assistant Musical Director, has worked with BFCS since 2010. A graduate from the University of York, he then spent two years in Japan studying piano with Hiroko Ono. Chris is in much demand as an accompanist and has performed in recitals and concerts both around the UK and Japan. He is fortunate to work regularly with a wide variety of performers, from young talented instrumentalists at the start of their music career, to established and celebrated West End stars and international Opera singers. Since 2013 he has been the répétiteur for Opera North’s Children’s Chorus and Youth Chorus. He was the répétiteur for an original opera ‘The Selfish Giant’ devised by Justin Doyle around arias and recitative from Handel Operas for the Children’s Chorus, playing continuo for performances at the Northern Aldeburgh Festival and Howard Assembly Room. In 2015 he became an Education Repétiteur for Opera North, supporting their growing outreach programme. He will shortly be touring around the North of England, accompanying the Chorus of Opera North alongside hundreds of school children to perform an original work inspired by Wagner’s Ring Cycle, and working with the Youth Chorus on a production of Kurt Weill’s Down in the Valley for the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, directed by Jack Furness.
Chris is also resident accompanist for Greenhead College, Huddersfield, and regularly accompanies at Leeds College of Music, University of Huddersfield, and University of Hull.
Follow him on Twitter @kurisup