Julian Collings - Musical Director
Julian Collings was educated as an organ scholar at Tonbridge School in Kent, before winning an organ scholarship to Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1999, studying under Thomas Trotter and David Sanger.
He is currently Director of Music at St Cyprian's Church, Clarence Gate, where he runs a substantial music programme including directing the renowned resident choir and acting as artistic director of the St Cyprian’s Chamber Music Series. In addition he directs a number of choirs in and around London including Teddington Choral, Epsom Choral and The Barnes Choir.
As an organ recitalist he has performed extensively both in the UK and overseas as well as broadcasting for BBC Radio and Television. Recent recital engagements have included Portsmouth, Gloucester and Guildford Cathedrals, St Alban’s Abbey and St John’s College, Cambridge, in addition to concerts in the Channel Islands, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Holland and Estonia.
As organist with Svyati Duo, Julian regularly collaborates with cellist Rebecca Hepplewhite, performing concerts all around the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA. The duo have three critically acclaimed recordings to their name on the Regent Records label and have commissioned a number of new works by leading UK and US composers. In 2020 they received an invitation to perform at the American Guild of Organists National Convention and regularly feature on the prolific US public radio broadcast ‘Pipedreams’.
In 2024 he directed William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast at Cadogan Hall which brought three of his choirs together with an expanded English Sinfonietta for a highly acclaimed combined performance.
Peter Jaekel - Accompanist
Peter Jaekel studied at the Royal Academy of Music under John Scott, Geoffrey Pratley and David Willison. For seven years he was organist at Bradfield College, since when he has been a freelance organist and piano accompanist.
He is accompanist to Crouch End Festival Chorus and regularly deputises for the London Symphony Chorus and London Philharmonic Choir. He has worked with some of the world’s finest conductors including Sir Colin Davis, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Jurowski, Michael Tilson Thomas and Edward Gardner OBE. He is organist at St Cyprian's Church and has held appointments as organist at Tiffin School and St Paul’s Knightsbridge. He has performed as pianist with the Ben Sanders Scottish Country Dance Band throughout Britain and abroad.
Peter is much sought after as a vocal coach for contemporary music. He has been principal repetiteur for Eastern Opera and has also worked for European Chamber Opera.
He has given performances of Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass and Pärt’s Credo, Handel’s Organ Concerti and Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony, and he has appeared at the Swaledale, Ryedale, Brighton and Deal festivals.
Peter's work has taken him all over Europe, to Hong Kong and New York. Recent performances have included the piano part in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with Crouch End Festival Chorus at the Barbican and MacMillan’s Mass with the Arcubus Ensemble.