A world-class choir in London
David Temple MBE - Music Director
Under the direction of David Temple, Crouch End Festival Chorus is now one of the world’s leading symphonic choirs.
David co-founded the choir in 1984 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.
In 2020, David's recording of Britten’s St Nicolas and A Ceremony of Carols was released by Signum Records. His recording of Bach’s St John Passion (in English) with Crouch End Festival Chorus for Chandos Records has been received with glowing reviews. Also on Chandos Records, David prepared the chorus for the recording of Parry’s Judith and recently Prometheus Unbound for future release.
David has collaborated closely for many years with Ray Davies of The Kinks for recordings and performances. In 2010 David appeared with Ray and the choir on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
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 music for the BBC’s Doctor Who and Good Omens at Air Studios and soundtracks for several films including Rocketman, A Cure for Wellness and Loving Vincent at Abbey Road.
At the 2008 Electric Proms at the Roundhouse in London, David and the choir performed with Oasis. Subsequently he directed the choir on Noel Gallagher’s first solo album as well as conducting the choir on UK-wide tours in 2012, 2015 and 2016.
David has also prepared the choir for concerts with Ennio Morricone, Andrea Bocelli, Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard and MUSE.
David’s work as chorus master includes Berlioz’s Grande Messe des Morts with the BBCSO under François-Xavier Roth and most recently Verdi’s Requiem for the 2022 First Night of the BBC Proms.
In addition to his work with Crouch End Festival Chorus, David has been Musical Director of the Hertfordshire Chorus since 2000.
His recording of Will Todd’s Ode to a Nightingale and James McCarthy’s Codebreaker with the chorus and the BBC Concert Orchestra was released on Signum Records, receiving excellent reviews.
David’s commissions with Hertfordshire Chorus include Will Todd’s Mass in Blue, which has received well over 200 performances all over the world. His most recent commission is Shruthi Rajasekar’s Sarojini performed in October 2022.
David Temple was awarded the MBE for services to music in the 2018 New Year’s Honours.
Read more about David's work with Crouch End Festival Chorus.
Peter Jaekel - Accompanist
Peter Jaekel is the choir’s principal accompanist and has worked across a wide range of musical genres, both nationally and internationally.
Born in Gloucester, Peter entered the Royal Academy of Music in 1985 where he studied piano accompaniment with Geoffrey Pratley and David Willison, and organ with John Scott.
For seven years he was chapel organist at Bradfield College, Berkshire. Since 1997, he has been a freelance organist and piano accompanist.
He is a deputy accompanist to the London Symphony Chorus, where he has worked with some of the world’s finest conductors, including Sir Colin Davis, Daniel Harding and Yan Pascal Tortelier. He is repetiteur to North Herts Guild of Singers, accompanist to Hertford Choral Society, and regularly plays for other choirs in the South East including Brighton Festival Chorus.
He has been organist of St Paul’s, Knightsbridge since 2000 and performs as pianist with the Ben Sanders Scottish Country Dance Band throughout Britain and abroad.
Peter is in huge demand as a piano accompanist. He has accompanied the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and the saxophonist John Harle. He is also much sought after as a vocal coach for contemporary music. His repertoire includes operas by Sir Michael Tippett, Jonathan Dove, Stephen McNeff and Tansy Davies. He is principal repetiteur for Eastern Opera and has also worked for European Chamber Opera.
Engagements have included performances of Handel Organ Concerti and the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, and he has appeared at the Swaledale, Ryedale, Brighton and Deal Festivals. His work has taken him to France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Norway, Hong Kong and New York.