The BBC Singers have appointed Owain Park as their next chief conductor, beginning autumn 2026. Park will succeed Sofi Jeannin, who has led the group since 2018 and will continue in her role throughout the 2025/26 season.
Park has a longstanding relationship with the BBC Singers, having served as their principal guest conductor since 2022. The Bristol-born composer-conductor made his BBC Proms debut with the group in September last year, and in October he conducted the BBC Singers as part of their Centenary Concert at the Barbican.
Owain Park comments:
'I’m absolutely thrilled to be stepping into the role of chief conductor of the BBC Singers – it’s both a dream and an honour. With their rich history and spirit of innovation, the Singers represent so much of what excites me about music-making. I can’t wait to get started – exploring bold sounds and ideas, and building on their tradition of excellence. There’s so much to discover together, and I’m excited to help shape the next chapter.'
Who is Owain Park?
A busy conductor and composer, Owain Park can often be found at the helm of Southbank Sinfonia, Ensemble la Sportelle, Chamber Choir Ireland and Capella Cracoviensis. His own vocal consort, The Gesualdo Six, tours extensively, specialising in interpretations of Renaissance and contemporary music.
Park’s compositions are published by Novello and have been performed by ensembles including the Tallis Scholars and Aurora Orchestra. He is composer-in-residence with the London Choral Sinfonia, and was one of BBC Radio 3’s 31 under 31 Young Stars.
A fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Park was awarded the Dixon Prize for improvisation, having been senior organ scholar at Wells Cathedral and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied orchestration with John Rutter.
Who are the BBC Singers?
Britain's only full-time professional chamber choir, the BBC singers last season celebrated their 100th birthday. The ensemble narrowly escaped disbandment, announced in 2023 as part of the BBC's new strategy for classical music. A campaign to save the choir resulted in a suspension of that decision while the corporation looked at alternative funding models, in consultation with the Musicians' Union. The BBC announced that it had secured the future of the vocal ensemble in early 2024, drawing on support from a third party, The VOCES8 Foundation.
This year, the BBC Singers will perform in 11 Proms, including The First Night of the Proms (Friday 18 July), The Traitors (Saturday 26 July at 3pm and 7.30pm), Great British Classics (Tuesday 5 August) and the Last Night of the Proms (Saturday 13 September).
Where can I listen to Owain Park and the BBC Singers?
You can listen to Park conducting the BBC Singers at this year's Aldeburgh Festival on BBC Sounds.
His Friday Night is Music Night: Songs from the Shows performance with the BBC Singers will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 tonight, 4 July 2025 at 7.30pm, and will remain on BBC Sounds for 30 days.