David Temple

Under the direction of David Temple, Crouch End Festival Chorus is now one of the world’s leading symphonic choirs. David founded the choir in 1984 with fellow tenor John Gregson, and since then his eclectic tastes have shaped the enormously varied work of the choir, making Crouch End Festival Chorus unique in the choral world.

David’s recording of Bach’s St John Passion (in English) for Chandos Records has been received with glowing reviews.  With the same forces, his Mendelssohn Siblings album was released in January 2024. In 2020, his recording of Britten’s St Nicolas and A Ceremony of Carols was released by Signum Records. He has recently recorded Elgar’s The Kingdom for release in 2025.

David’s highlights with Crouch End Festival Chorus include Mahler’s Eighth Symphony to a sell-out Royal Festival Hall and John Adams’ Harmonium at the Barbican in the presence of the composer. Recording work includes BBC’s Doctor Who and Good Omens at Air Studios and soundtracks for several films including Rocketman.  David has also prepared the choir for concerts with Ennio Morricone, Andrea Bocelli, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, James Newton Howard and MUSE.

David has been Musical Director of the Hertfordshire Chorus since 2000. David’s commissions with Hertfordshire Chorus include Will Todd’s Mass in Blue, which has received well over 600 performances all over the world. He has recently recorded Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man for Signum Records

David Temple was awarded the MBE in the 2018 New Year’s Honours – for services to music.