John Jenkins began his musical career as a chorister at Bristol Cathedral. He later read music at Durham University where he was organ scholar of University College and conductor of the University Chamber Choir. In 1977, he returned to Bristol Cathedral as assistant organist and accompanist to choral societies in Bristol and Bath. Moving to the Midlands in 1981, he combined full-time teaching with the conductorship of the Derwent Singers and regular engagements as organist and continuo player. In 1992, John took up the post of organist at Sherborne Girls, becoming Director of Music in 1996, a role which included directing the school’s four choirs and joint conductorship of the Sherborne Schools’ Symphony Orchestra and Choral Society. From 2008 to 2020 he was guest conductor of the Variations Ensemble Vocal et Orchestre Philharmonique in the Dordogne region of France, collaborating on several major choral works in support of the Anglican Chaplaincy of Aquitaine. His choral work with young people has embraced courses for the Royal School of Church Music, the Prep Schools’ Association, the National Children’s Orchestra and the Gloucester Academy of Music. He is a regular visitor to the Marlborough College Summer School, having led the Choral Workshop course since 2015.

 

Having retired from Sherborne Girls in 2022, John is currently musical director of the South Somerset Choral Society, the Sherborne Community Orchestra and the Wessex Strings.