Death of UK choral pioneer
RIPThe singer and conductor Roy Wales has died at the age of 83. His achievements were manifold.
He formed the London Student Singers, the Camden Opera Group, the Southend Festival Chorus and the Brisbane Chorale, among others.
He was Director of Music at the University of Warwick 1974 to 1980, Director of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music 1981 to 1987, and Principal of the Birmingham School of Music (now Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) from 1987 to 1989.
He conducted the London premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and the UK and Australian premieres of the same composer’s Mass. Copland, Kodaly, Blacher and Phyllis Tate were among the other composers he commissioned.
This is very sad news. Roy gave me some important opportunities as a young singer, including using me as a soloist in the UK premier of Bernstein’s ‘Mass’ mentioned in the obituary. Roy was a fine conductor who remained calm in the most stressful of circumstances. He was also immensely affable, and popular with his colleagues. His work at Warwick University gave it an international performance reputation. Sincere condolences to his family. ‘Sing God a simple song.’
I was a member of Coventry Phoenix male voice choir which was led by Roy Wales. We once went to an eisteddfod in Wales and I sang in 5 of the 6 choirs he ran. I think we won most of the prizes. We also went to Paris to sing in Faurés Requiem. He conducted the orchestra at Warwick University in a performance of Fidelio. I enjoyed very much my brief association with him.
His time as Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire was controversial, not on account of his musical abilities (which were considerable) but his management style which caused deep divisions. At a personal level I liked him and had great respect for his work as a choral conductor and inspirer of a young generation of musicians but Birmingham was not his finest hour. He will undoubtedly be missed in the wider profession though.
John, you couldn’t have put it better. I liked him personally and respected his musicianship, but I think his vision for the School of Music proved too abrasive for some.
Remember him warmly.
Thank you for mentioning my father Roy Wales – he had a very full musical life and we’re so proud of all his achievements
Condolences, Simon.
How sad to hear this. I have happy memories of being in Roy’s London Student Chorale, later named the London Chorale, in the 1970s! It was great to sing in the UK/London premiere of the Bernstein Mass at the Royal Albert Hall. Another memorable event was a two-week concert tour to the (then) USSR, singing in Moscow, St Petersburg and Kyiv. Roy was certainly a pioneer and such an inspiring conductor .
A lovely tribute. At the risk of appearing in Private Eye’s pedant’s corner, surely- if you toured the USSR, at that time t’would’ve been Leningrad and Kiev! But…Brava for the updote nomenclature. It seems that Roy Wales had, above all… Choirisma!
Roy helped nurture my love of choral music when I joined the Southend Festival Chorus as a teenager and continued singing with him in the London Student Choral. From Bernstein to performing with Procol Harum at the Rainbow. Marvellous experiences. Thank you.