Nicholas Wilks

Nicholas Wilks trained as a treble Quirister in Winchester College Chapel Choir between the ages of 10 and 13, and was a music scholar at Cranleigh School before reading English at Oxford where he founded the Oxford Philharmonia (now the Oxford University Philharmonia).

He studied conducting as a postgraduate with Colin Metters, George Hurst and John Carewe at the Royal Academy of Music before holding a number of musical directorships, including Winchester Music Club, the North Herts Guild of Singers, Haringey Young Musicians, the Finchley Children’s Music Group, New Youth Opera, the Petersfield Musical Festival and the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra.

He also sang with A Capella Portuguesa, conducted the premiere of Alec Roth’s “Earth and Sky” at the BBC Proms and worked with Sir Colin Davis on the premiere of Piers Hellawell’s “Do Not Disturb”, commissioned for the Finchley Children’s Music Group by the London Symphony Orchestra. His CD for Somm of Britten’s “Noye’s Fludde” and “A Ceremony of Carols” was a Sunday Times Critics’ Choice.

As Master of Music (Director of Music) at Winchester College, he directed a range of choral works, including the Monteverdi Vespers, the Brahms Requiem with Kiri Te Kanawa, and Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” with Bryn Terfel, as well as developing the college’s outreach programme with such initiatives as a project in care homes for music and dementia, and community choral concerts with local schools and choirs. He has recently moved to North Ayrshire from Hampshire, volunteers with the Big Noise in Govanhill and sings with the Glasgow Chamber Choir.

Photos courtesy of Gary Holmes