University Women’s Choir are pleased to welcome the young upcoming choral conductor, Patrick Barrett, as their new Chorus Master for the 2017/18 academic year. 

Patrick Barrett was educated in Ireland, reading Music Education at Trinity College, Dublin and the National Conservatory of Ireland, DIT. His postgraduate training was at Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Hungary and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where he completed an MMus in choral conducting. Currently, he is assistant conductor with the National Children’s Choir and a musicianship tutor with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. He is also working with Brockham Choral Society and across London in the Ark Schools in the delivery of their choral music programme. This summer sees him work with Garsington Opera and the Royal Opera House Youth Opera Company.

Of the appointment, Barrett commented: ‘Having seen and heard the fantastic standard of choral music at the university, I'm delighted and honoured to be joining the renowned choral conducting team and choirs at the University of Birmingham. I look forward to starting with the University Women’s Choir in October.’

Based at the Bramall Music Building, Barrett is another addition to the distinguished choral music-making team at the university, which has internationally renowned musicians Professor Simon Halsey CBE, Julian Wilkins, and Professor Simon Carrington delivering a wide range of choral activity.

Upcoming highlights for the university choirs in 2017/18 include concerts to mark the 5th Anniversary of the Bramall Music Building, a Bernstein Gala at Symphony Hall with John Wilson, and a performance of Debussy’s Trois chansons de Charles d’Orléans with Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.