Conductor

Steven is the Musical Director of Monmouth Choral Society [MCS] and Thornbury Choral Society [TCS]. Performances with them have included Bach's John and Matthew Passions, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and his Mass in C major, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Britten's St Nicolas, Dvorak's Mass, Duruflé's Requiem, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, Handel’s Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus, Haydn's Seasons and Maria Theresa Mass, Kodaly's Missa Brevis, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mozart's Requiem and Coronation Mass, Orff's Carmina Burana, Poulenc's Gloria, and Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. Steven has led many successful workshops with both choirs.

Steven is Assistant Music Director of Bristol Choral Society. He conducted them on tour to Hungary in 2003, performing Rutter’s Requiem and Kodaly’s Missa Brevis in Budapest and Kecskemét, and also in the BBC Bristol Christmas concert at Bristol Cathedral in 2003 (broadcast on BBC Radio Bristol). He conducted their performance at the opening night of the Bristol Harbourside Festival in 2006. [BCS]

He has built a wider reputation as an inspirational workshop leader and choral trainer. He led the Charfield Big Sing in February and November 2012, and since then has led four successful workshops under the auspices of All-4-Music. In 2013 he acted as chorus master for a very successful performance of Mahler's Symphony no.8 at Bristol's Colston Hall. He has been regularly involved in preparing choirs for the South Cotswold Big Sing, rehearsing Elgar's Gerontius in 2016, the Berlioz Requiem in 2018, and Mahler 8 in 2022. In January 2020 he led a hugely enjoyable choral weekend with the Laetare Singers at Halsway Manor.

From 2001 to 2014 Steven was Assistant Director of the BBC National Chorus of Wales, working regularly alongside its chorus master Adrian Partington and many leading conductors including Thierry Fischer, Richard Hickox, and Thomas Søndergård. He himself conducted the chorus in performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London (2012), the Wales Millenium Centre (2011), and St David’s Hall, Cardiff (2002), and also chorus-mastered a number of recording sessions and concerts.

Between 2011 and 2014 Steven directed New Bristol Voices, a chamber choir with interests in exploring some of the lesser-known repertoire, performing pieces by living (and/or local) composers, and experimenting with freer notations and unusual layouts within the building space. They gave a number of very successful concerts in a variety of venues, as well as workshops for A-level music students.

He conducted the Bristol University Singers during the academic year 2008-9, giving three lunchtime concerts of unusual and exciting music with this excellent young chamber choir. The programes included works by Liszt, Tippett and Villette, music by past and present professors Raymond Warren and Geoff Poole, madrigals, and a short set taken from Steven's own work, Zen May [Listen to May 15].

Between 1999 and 2004 he was director of the Cotswold Chorus.

 

"Everything came together so well on just one afternoon rehearsal on the day of the concert. Much of the credit for this must go to Steven Kings whose fussless and dynamic direction inspired confidence in the performers allowing them to give of their very best."

(Nigel Davies, Reviewer, 2019)

"The balance between the choir, soloists and orchestra, was thus sustained under the guidance and impressive creative skill of Steven Kings, the musical director.....

"Steven Kings delivered a brilliant interpretation of [Boyce's Symphony no.5]; the movements being bright and exhilarating, full of energy and sparkle."

(Margaret Iggulden, Reviewer, 2019)

"Steven Kings brought out the nuances of the music, creating an integrated and extremely impressive performance."

(Margaret Iggulden, Reviewer, 2018)

"Much credit must go to conductor Steven Kings for his careful attention to detail and inspired leadership on the podium."

(Martin Firth, Reviewer, 2018)

"I'd be very happy to play for Thornbury Choral Society again. It really is one of the best on the circuit - a choir that sings with real musicianship, and an excellent conductor."

(RH, orchestral player, 2017)

"This performance [of the Matthew Passion], under the musical direction of Steven Kings, must surely be one of the best and most moving that Monmouth Choral Society has ever delivered."

(Angela Hoyle, Reviewer, 2017)

"Thank you for making attendance at Monmouth Choral Society such a delight and pleasure. Your great skill as a teacher and conductor, imparting knowledge with wisdom and humour, makes every Tuesday evening a really positive learning experience for me."

(Jenny, an MCS singer, 2016)

"I thought the concert went very well, and much of the thanks for this goes to Steven Kings for his exceptionally clear beat and consistently thought-out approach to the work."

(PK, orchestral player for Gerontius, December 2012)

"Steven Kings’ crystal-clear beat expressed exactly what he required and enabled the choir to respond with attack and confidence."

(Thornbury Gazette, May 2009)