Music Director

Meet Jordan Theis, our inspirational new conductor shaping the choir’s next chapter

Basingstoke Choral Society are thrilled to welcome our new conductor, Jordan Theis, whose passion for choral music and inspiring vision for the future of our choir promise an exciting new chapter ahead. In a recent interview, he shared the experiences and influences that have shaped his musical journey, along with his hopes for building a vibrant, connected community through music. 

What drew you to choral conducting? 
I started to learn the piano aged eight and went on to study piano at The Royal Academy of Music, London, as part of my university degree at Kings College London. I‘d always enjoyed singing and joined the university choir, where I was given the opportunity to conduct a performance of the Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle and found that I really enjoyed conducting. On graduating, I wasn’t sure about which direction to take until I realised choirs and singing were such a huge and enjoyable part of my life that perhaps I should be trying to be a choral conductor! I was really lucky to start conducting lessons with Joanna Tomlinson. She told me that if I stuck with it I could be really good, and thankfully, she agreed to be my mentor.  

I’m still a pianist, I accompany and teach piano, but conducting is what I love.

Tell me about your approach to choral conducting.
I believe that music is something you experience, that you can feel physically. I tend to try and demonstrate what I want from a choir. As a conductor, you are using gestures all the time, so if you can physicalise what you want, and people are watching you, they can respond to you physically. Education is always in the back of my mind when I am working with amateur choirs. I flip between teaching people how music works, giving vocal coaching and conducting. All plates spinning at the same time!

What drew you to Basingstoke Choral Society?
I have been working with the Barts Choir as Assistant Conductor for some time and was ready for a bigger and more sustained challenge of directing a choir of my own. I went to hear Basingstoke Choral Society perform at The Anvil and was super impressed with the ambition and dedication of all the singers. It’s early in my first term with the choir, but everyone is on board with making the best sound we possibly can, which is great and not to be understated. The choir is really friendly, that is a key thing. I can see already that we’re balancing a good, inclusive atmosphere with being serious about what we do. I’m thrilled that I was appointed and think we’ve hit the ground running! It’s very exciting.      

Do you have a vision for the choir?
I’d love to see us continue to grow and be quite ambitious with our programming. I love to work with living composers, so maybe commissioning something and even recording it would be amazing. I would love to work out how we can involve younger people in our music-making and collaborate with other musical groups in the area to share our love of the art and connect with a wider audience.