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The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers today announced that Paul Brough becomes its new Principal Guest Conductor from January 2011. He will share the role with the current Principal Guest Conductor Bob Chilcott.

His first official engagement with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers is a lunchtime concert at St Paul's, Knightsbridge, broadcast live on the final day of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3's The Genius Of Mozart celebrations on 12 January.

Paul Brough first conducted the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers in a studio recording of choral music by Howells and Bantock in 2007 and has since formed a close working relationship with the 24-strong professional choir.

With the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers, he has recorded SS Wesley for Radio 3's Composer Of The Week, choral music by Villa-Lobos, Liszt and Boughton and conducted the group on tour in France.

He also directed a historic performance of Benjamin Britten's St Nicolas – for which the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers were joined by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra – to mark the 60th anniversary of the piece's composition, from the place it was first performed – the chapel of Lancing College in Sussex. It was broadcast live on Radio 3 and was available to view on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Red Button.

He next directs the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers in their final concert of 2010 – a performance of English Christmas music – which will be broadcast live throughout Europe on 19 December.

Paul Brough has been a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music for the past six years, where he teaches conducting and academic studies and runs a Specialist Conducting Elective. In 2007, he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for "distinction in the music profession". He was Principal Conductor of The Hanover Band – one of the UK's finest period orchestras – from 2007-2010. Paul Brough has been Director of Music at All Saints, Margaret Street, since 2004.

Paul Brough says: "I am thrilled to be joining the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers. They are a virtuoso vocal orchestra with endless musical possibilities and I am looking forward to exploring the far corners of repertoire as well as seeking freshness in the music we all know and love."

Stephen Ashley-King, General Manager of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers, says: "We are delighted that Paul has accepted our invitation to become one of our Principal Guest Conductors. His distinguished musicianship combined with a sensitivity towards both music and musicians makes him the perfect choice for this role. We are greatly looking forward to furthering this already fruitful partnership."

Notes to Editors

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers are the UK's only full-time professional chamber choir and one of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s six performing groups. Their concerts are broadcast on Radio 3. David Hill is Chief Conductor of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers; Stephen Cleobury is Conductor Laureate; and Gabriel Jackson is the group's Associate Composer.

More information can be found by visiting the .

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