Julian Wilkins pursues a successful freelance career as conductor, pianist and organist, working throughout the UK and overseas with prestigious musical organisations including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Birmingham Opera Company, Birmingham Conservatoire, and the Association of British Choral Directors.
Educated at Wells Cathedral School as a chorister and specialist musician, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge as an organ scholar, Julian has performed in many of the country's cathedrals and leading concert venues as a soloist and accompanist, including engagements with Crispian Steele Perkins, Steven Isserlis, Keel Watson and the dynamic percussionist Simone Rebello. He has appeared on BBC and Independent television and radio, and on the film soundtrack "The Last Temptation of Christ" - part of which can be heard in a recent TV advertising campaign for Cancer Research UK.
Previous appointments include: Head of Music at Coleridge Community College, Cambridge; Assistant Organist and Director of Music at Great St Mary's, The University Church, Cambridge; and Assistant Director of Cantate Youth Choir (Sainsbury's Children's Choir of the Year 2000); coaching at Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge, and running a private teaching practice.
In addition to his current work as Music Director of Cambridge Chorale,
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough County Youth Choir, Cambridge Primary
Schools' Singing Network, and the newly-formed CBSO Boys' Chorus, he is
Assistant Conductor and Accompanist of the City of Birmingham Symphony
Chorus, working with Simon Halsey and David Lawrence to prepare the chorus
for conductors such as Sakari Oramo, Martyn Brabbins, Peter Schreier, James
MacMillan, Jac van Steen and Sir Charles Mackerras. As a member of the
teaching faculty at Canford Summer School of Music, he directs the Choral
Course, and with David Lawrence co-directs the Art of Choral Direction
Course. Julian is also in demand as a recitalist, accompanist and choral
workshop leader, popular with musicians and audiences of all ages.