Projects
John founded Orchestra for the Earth in 2017, fuelled by a love of the great outdoors and a desire as a musician to make a difference in the climate and environmental crisis. Together they have performed in striking locations such as the Eden Project, Royal Opera House and UK Houses of Parliament, and in 2021 they were invited to give a special performance at the COP26 Climate Summit. Their annual European tour focuses around Mahler's three composing huts in the Alps, using his music as a springboard for a variety of environmental projects such as children's workshops, creative conferences and the founding of a new nature reserve in Mahler's name, as well as pioneering sustainable orchestral touring.
Oxford Opera has established a reputation for using music, theatre and the creative arts to enrich the lives of all members of the county of Oxfordshire which the company serves. Now in his fourth season as Music Director, John has conducted many of the classics of the operatic repertoire with them—such as La Traviata, Die Zauberflöte and Tosca—as well as a variety of opera galas and education events around the city. During his tenure the company has won awards and critical acclaim for the quality of their work and the innovative and inclusive nature of their approach.
In 2023, John was invited by Marina Mahler and the Beijing Music Festival to form the Mahler Foundation Festival Orchestra. For their inaugural residency at the Festival, he brought together leading musicians from Europe and China alongside a star line-up of soloists. He curated four programmes exploring contemporary themes such as youth and climate, pairing Mahler's music alongside new works from both cultures. These concerts included four world premieres, five Chinese premieres of classics such as Messiaen's Oiseaux exotiques and Sir George Benjamin's At First Light, and three of Mahler's symphonies. They played to packed audiences and critical acclaim in the Chinese and international press, forging an exciting new partnership between the Beijing Music Festival and Mahler Foundation.
Arrangements and Orchestrations
John is an experienced orchestrator and arranger with a large portfolio including operas, symphonies, songs and tone poems re-scored for smaller ensembles. Publication by Universal Edition forthcoming. These arrangements have the benefit not only of making these works performable in more intimate venues, but also of bringing out fresh colours and a chamber-like dynamic to the music. John regularly performs these arrangements himself, either conducting or leading from the piano.
All arrangements are available for hire.