The Choir's Past Musical Directors
Clifford Bunford
It is with much regret that Cardiff Bach Choir must record the passing of Clifford in December 2018. Besides his great musical talent, his sense of humour and his sheer joy at making music will be well remembered by members who sang under his baton. The Choir is a fitting legacy to Cliff who conducted us well into his 80s and returned to contribute to our 50th anniversary concert in 2012.
The Choir was founded by Clifford, who hailed from the Welsh valleys and who devoted his life to the teaching and performing music especially the works of Bach.
A boy soprano who went on to become an acclaimed tenor, Cliff saw the need for a choir to promote the works of Bach and, with a group of friends from the BBC Singers, in 1962 he formed the Cardiff Bach Choir. Cliff taught at Cathays High school in Cardiff before joining the staff of Cardiff University as head of Vocal, Choral and Practical studies, a post he held until his retirement in 1989. He also taught and conducted in the USA.
During the years that followed Cardiff Bach Choir grew in size and reputation and went on to perform most of the great choral works under Cliff’s direction
Cliff retired as conductor of the Choir in 2003 but remained its president and continued to take an interest in the affairs of the choir until his passing.
The Choir was founded by Clifford, who hailed from the Welsh valleys and who devoted his life to the teaching and performing music especially the works of Bach.
A boy soprano who went on to become an acclaimed tenor, Cliff saw the need for a choir to promote the works of Bach and, with a group of friends from the BBC Singers, in 1962 he formed the Cardiff Bach Choir. Cliff taught at Cathays High school in Cardiff before joining the staff of Cardiff University as head of Vocal, Choral and Practical studies, a post he held until his retirement in 1989. He also taught and conducted in the USA.
During the years that followed Cardiff Bach Choir grew in size and reputation and went on to perform most of the great choral works under Cliff’s direction
Cliff retired as conductor of the Choir in 2003 but remained its president and continued to take an interest in the affairs of the choir until his passing.
Dr Tim Taylor
Tim took over as Music Director for Cardiff Bach choir in 2003 when Cliff Bunford retired. As a former student at the university, studying and working with Cliff he was a natural choice to succeed him.
Tim comes from Somerset and studied at Cardiff University where he graduated with honours and then continued at Cardiff as a post graduate studying composition. He joined the University staff and remained there until his retirement in 2015.
Tim is an accomplished musician and conductor, playing organ, piano and violin. As a composer he has had works performed in the UK, Europe and America and following his recent retirement hopes to be able to spend more time composing. The choir have frequently performed works either written or arranged by Tim.
Tim comes from Somerset and studied at Cardiff University where he graduated with honours and then continued at Cardiff as a post graduate studying composition. He joined the University staff and remained there until his retirement in 2015.
Tim is an accomplished musician and conductor, playing organ, piano and violin. As a composer he has had works performed in the UK, Europe and America and following his recent retirement hopes to be able to spend more time composing. The choir have frequently performed works either written or arranged by Tim.
Mr Luke Spencer
Luke was appointed as Musical Director of CBC in September 2015. His first duty was to prepare us for our exchange visit with Stuttgarter Oratorienchor in December though he was not able to travel with us due to work commitments. The German Choir came to Cardiff in the following May and joined Cardiff Bach at Llandaff Cathedral in a much-acclaimed programme featuring all Welsh modern composers which included Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater. In later years the choir developed links with Luke’s other choirs in Swansea and in December 2016 gave a very memorable performance of the Messiah with Morriston Tabernacle Choir in the wonderful Victorian chapel, the home of the Tabernacle Choir.
It is to Luke that we express our sincere thanks for guiding us through 2020/21 when, like all choirs in the UK, our activities were severely hampered by the Covid pandemic. We all experienced singing as a virtual choir with the new computer software, Zoom, which Luke entered into with great humour and enthusiasm. At the end of this period Luke obtained a new teaching post in west Wales to where he was obliged to move.
Luke was born in Leicester and at a very early age he began singing as a cathedral chorister and it is there that his musical career began. Having been educated at Ratcliffe College, he went on to study voice and organ at the Royal Northern College of Music under Robert Alderson and Ronald Frost respectively. He also read music at Cardiff University being tutored by John Hugh Thomas and Kelvin Thomas. His studies also took him to the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome where he studied sacred choral music, being honoured to have tutoring from His Eminence Cardinal Bartolucci, Director Emeritus of the Sistine Chapel Choir. Previously, whilst Head of Expressive Arts at St. Michael’s School in Llanelli, Luke became Director of Music at Bishop Vaughan Catholic School in Swansea and was also Assistant Director of Music and Diocesan Organist for the Catholic Diocese of Menevia and was also appointed as Director of Music at All Saints Church, Mumbles.
Luke’s performances as an organist had taken him far and wide, including recitals at St. Gervais and Le Sacre Couer in Paris, the Church of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna as well as many concerts and recitals in British cathedrals. Singing as a soloist had taken him the length and breadth of the UK.
As a conductor, Luke led the Festival Orchestra and Chamber orchestras of Wales, the RWCMD Choral Society and Cardiff University Chamber Orchestra, Cantorial Pontyclun, the Gower Chorale and Morriston Tabernacle Choir.
It is to Luke that we express our sincere thanks for guiding us through 2020/21 when, like all choirs in the UK, our activities were severely hampered by the Covid pandemic. We all experienced singing as a virtual choir with the new computer software, Zoom, which Luke entered into with great humour and enthusiasm. At the end of this period Luke obtained a new teaching post in west Wales to where he was obliged to move.
Luke was born in Leicester and at a very early age he began singing as a cathedral chorister and it is there that his musical career began. Having been educated at Ratcliffe College, he went on to study voice and organ at the Royal Northern College of Music under Robert Alderson and Ronald Frost respectively. He also read music at Cardiff University being tutored by John Hugh Thomas and Kelvin Thomas. His studies also took him to the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome where he studied sacred choral music, being honoured to have tutoring from His Eminence Cardinal Bartolucci, Director Emeritus of the Sistine Chapel Choir. Previously, whilst Head of Expressive Arts at St. Michael’s School in Llanelli, Luke became Director of Music at Bishop Vaughan Catholic School in Swansea and was also Assistant Director of Music and Diocesan Organist for the Catholic Diocese of Menevia and was also appointed as Director of Music at All Saints Church, Mumbles.
Luke’s performances as an organist had taken him far and wide, including recitals at St. Gervais and Le Sacre Couer in Paris, the Church of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna as well as many concerts and recitals in British cathedrals. Singing as a soloist had taken him the length and breadth of the UK.
As a conductor, Luke led the Festival Orchestra and Chamber orchestras of Wales, the RWCMD Choral Society and Cardiff University Chamber Orchestra, Cantorial Pontyclun, the Gower Chorale and Morriston Tabernacle Choir.