Press Release
27 May 2024
London Philharmonic Choir Appoints Associate Chorus Director, Victoria Longdon
Longdon will support the Choir in maintaining singers’ vocal health and developing relationships with youth choirs
The London Philharmonic Choir, a world-renowned choral ensemble, today 27 May 2024 announces the appointment of Victoria Longdon as its new Associate Chorus Director from 1 June 2024. Longdon brings a wealth of experience and a passion for choral music to her new role, and seeks to further enhance the esteemed reputation of one of the UK’s leading choral ensembles.
During her first season with the London Philharmonic Choir, Victoria Longdon will shadow outgoing Artistic Director Neville Creed assisting him in preparing the Choir for performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (“LPO”) including Rachmaninov’s The Bells and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the LPO’s Principal Conductor Edward Gardner (28 September 2024 and 26 April 2025); Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 13 (Babi Yar) under Andrey Boreyko (27 November 2024); and Haydn’s Missa in tempore belli and John Adams’s On the Transmigration of Souls with the LPO’s Conductor Emeritus Vladimir Jurowski (18 January 2025). She will also deliver a programme of coaching focusing on the Choir members’ vocal health, and nurture the Choir’s existing relationships with youth choirs bringing through the next generation of choral singers.
Longdon’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the London Philharmonic Choir as it continues its legacy of delivering professional quality and award-winning performances from its members who are all amateur singers from all walks of life. Longdon is the second Associate Chorus Director of the London Philharmonic Choir since its founding in 1947, following Matthew Rowe (2003–2008).
Tessa Bartley, London Philharmonic Choir Chairman, says: ‘We are delighted to welcome Victoria Longdon to the London Philharmonic Choir family. Her appointment is the first step in our succession plan to ensure the London Philharmonic Choir continues to prosper following Neville Creed’s retirement. Victoria was chosen by the members of the Choir following a competitive selection process and we are excited to see where this new relationship takes us. We are currently preparing to celebrate our 80th anniversary in 2027. The Board and I look forward to working with Victoria paving the way for the next generation of choral singers and volunteers to take this renowned organisation to its centenary.’
Victoria Longdon, London Philharmonic Choir Associate Chorus Director
London based Victoria Longdon also holds the position of Principal Conductor of the Covent Garden Chorus. Recent conducting engagements include a four week tour of Australia giving workshops and masterclasses, and coaching 18 choirs for His Majesty the King’s Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle. In 2024, Longdon was one of nine national recipients of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Women On The Podium scholarship, and she also received an RPS Inspiration Award for her work establishing the international choral platform The Stay At Home Choir.
Victoria is currently a conductor for Songs Of Praise on BBC1, as well as an adjudicator for Young Choir Of The Year and Young Chorister Of The Year. She appeared on BBC2 as a judge on two series’ of the The Choir. As a broadcaster, she has interviewed some of classical music’s most famous names, including Marin Alsop, John Rutter, Sir Karl Jenkins, Sofi Jeannin and Christopher Tin.
Longdon received her masters in choral conducting from the Royal Academy Of Music in London in 2016, and was awarded an Associateship of the Royal Academy Of Music (ARAM) in 2023.
Victoria Longdon, Associate Chorus Director says: ‘It’s such an honour to be selected to work alongside Neville and the LPC as their next Associate Chorus Director. The Choir is a shining example of modern choral singing in the UK, and I have been very impressed by the dedication and good humour of the singers in the sessions I’ve been involved with so far. I’m very much looking forward to the next four years of my tenure.’
For more information about the London Philharmonic Choir, please visit lpc.org.uk.
For more information please contact:
Jenni Cresswell
London Philharmonic Choir Marketing Manager
Email: marketing@lpc.org.uk
Notes to Editors
About the London Philharmonic Choir
The London Philharmonic Choir is one of the world’s leading choral ensembles, known for its exceptional performances and dedication to the art of choral music. Founded in 1947, the Choir has a rich history of collaborating with renowned orchestras and performing a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works.
