Kenneth Bowen - Conductor Emeritus

Musical Director of the London Welsh Chorale from Feb 1983 to Dec 2008, Kenneth Bowen was born in Llanelli and educated at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and St. John’s, Cambridge. As a prelude to a varied and distinguished singing career he won several important prizes in the early 1960s, including the Munich International Competition and the Queens Prize. His work took him all over Europe, to Israel, Egypt, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States and Canada. At home, he appeared frequently at all the major festivals and with the major opera companies including the Royal Opera, English National Opera, the Welsh Opera and Glyndebourne Touring Opera He regularly performed at the Three Choirs Festival and the Proms and was noted for the number of first performances of new works. He is a Council Member of British Youth Opera and was Chairman of the Association of Teachers of Singing in 1991/92. He was Head of Voice Studies for several years at the Royal Academy of Music. In April 1995 he was profiled, with the Chorale, in the BBC Radio Cymru programme, Cantabile. A past winner of the John Edwards Memorial Award, he was recently elected Patron of the Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music. He is now a Vice-President of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. In 2003 Kenneth was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Music by the University of Wales. 

Kenneth Bowen was conductor of the London Welsh Chorale for 25 years. 2008 was a year of great events to mark that amazing contribution.  We asked Kenneth what works he would like to perform and we did all three; Bach's B Minor Mass in February, Elijah in July and Messiah in December.  In between, we joined the other London Welsh choirs for a concert at the Cadogan Hall; we have been ‘on tour’ in Switzerland; sung for S4C on Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol (broadcast Dec 08) and sung at "our home" the London Welsh Centre for the twenty fifth annual Nine Lessons and Carols service.

At Kenneth's last concert, Messiah, we were delighted to be joined by four of Kenneth's former pupils at the Royal Academy of Music as our soloists. All four have been regular soloists with the Chorale since their student days. In the ranks of the Chorale there were those who have been members since the very first rehearsal in February 1983 and others who have joined us this term. In the audience, there were also many Chorale alumni. This musical ‘reunion’ was another tribute to Kenneth's 25 years as our conductor.

In those 25 years, the Chorale performed a range of music, from Bach to new Welsh commissions, and travelled widely, from Barbados to Zurich (this May).  It has performed in many different venues, from Westminster Abbey to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, recording studios and the National Botanic Garden of Wales.  Some members of the Chorale have been singing under Ken's baton since the very first rehearsal in February 1983 and we are delighted that we also have many new members. We all owe Kenneth enormous thanks for sharing with us his musical skill and knowledge. The Chorale grew from strength to strength under his baton and we have not only, we hope you will agree, made good music but had great fun. All of us have great affection and respect for Kenneth and we owe him so much for the way in which membership of the Chorale and friendship with him has enriched our lives. We all thank Kenneth for those very happy 25th years, with our own memories of concerts and tours under his baton.

Thank you Kenneth for all these years of happy music making.  Diolch yn fawr .