Our Conductors
Our conductors lead our choir and orchestra in rehearsal and in concert and they’ll keep you entertained along the way. Read on to find out more about them.
Dan James/Orchestra Conductor
Daniel James graduated in music from Downing College, Cambridge, where his first conducting experience was with Downing College Orchestra and Cambridge University New Music Society. He became CAOS’s orchestral conductor in 2004. In addition to CAOS he has also held conducting posts with Hollingworth and Arnfield Brass Bands and contemporary music ensemble CoMA, and is currently the conductor of Bolton Male Voice Choir.
Dan is equally at home in the theatre pit, having conducted productions of Bugsy Malone at the Altrincham Garrick, The Sorcerer at the RNCM, Singin’ in the Rain, Guys and Dolls and West Side Story. He is the musical director of Bolton-based society Opera 74 and has conducted them in productions of Carmen and Die Fledermaus. Dan lives in Manchester where he works as an accompanist, arranger and instrumental teacher.
"The piece I've most enjoyed performing with CAOS was Dvorak's New World Symphony."
Ken Greaves/Choir Conductor
Born in Doncaster, Ken received his first degree from the University of Leeds and subsequently completed his Masters at the University of Sheffield. He then began his career teaching English to trainee teachers in the south-west of France, where he also played the organ in a pop group as well as playing rugby for the famous Agen Rugby Club; his team winning the national championships that year!
Upon his return to England to teach French in Keighley, he took up a temporary Head of Music post, as well as joining the Keighley Vocal Union and the Bradford Festival Choral Society. Then, after stints back in Doncaster and Cornwall, Ken moved to Manchester in 1983, becoming Deputy Headteacher at Fairfield Girls’ High School in Tameside.
Ken has also been a member of the Hallé Choir for almost 20 years. In 2004, he was invited to become Musical Director of The Nightingale Singers – a chamber choir that performs several times a year and has been on concert tours to Madeira and Brittany. He has also conducted at a Friends of the Hallé concert at RNCM, as well as occasional involvements with a variety of other ensembles around the Manchester area.
Ken also has a talent for instruments. Playing the violin, piano, and church organ in his early years, he now enjoys playing double bass, and has previously been principal bassist for the Manchester Beethoven Orchestra.
Having been appointed Choral MD in 2016, Ken says he “loves the enthusiasm and the sound of the Choir” and that he is “relishing working further with them”.
