Biography

Jeremy Jackman’s musical career began as a chorister, first at St Andrew’s Kingsbury (age 6) under Barry Rose, then at St Paul’s Cathedral. After further study at the Royal College of Music, and armed with a music degree from Hull University, he became a freelance professional singer, appearing as an oratorio and recital soloist, as a member of ensembles such as the BBC Northern Singers and the Tallis Scholars, and even (very occasionally) on the opera stage. He was appointed counter-tenor Lay Clerk at Westminster Cathedral under the direction of Stephen Cleobury before joining The King’s Singers. With them he shared their demanding international schedule, performing in the world’s most celebrated concert halls and making countless broadcasts and recordings.
In 1990 Jeremy turned his attention to conducting, and found himself directing choirs, courses and workshops all over the world. As Chorus Master to the Belfast Philharmonic Choir and the London Philharmonic Choir he worked with the world’s most renowned conductors in the preparation of a wide variety of music. In 1994 he was invited to form the choir eventually known as OSJ Voices to support the work of The Orchestra of St John’s Smith Square. In 2021 he stepped down as conductor of The Cecilian Singers, a Leicester-based chamber choir with whom he had enjoyed a fruitful partnership lasting 30 years: and more recently he concluded another enduring alliance with the English Baroque Choir, whose Musical Director he had been for more than two decades.
Jeremy has conducted at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, Alexandra Palace, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and St John’s Smith Square. A further highlight was the direction of a sold-out performance of Brahms’ Requiem in the chapel of King’s College Cambridge. On four separate occasions he has been the guest conductor for the special Mozart Requiem performance that takes place in Vienna at midnight (the hour of the composer’s death) on 5th December.