Young Bass-Baritone and Conductor William Jeys read music at the University of Oxford and is currently a freelance Bass-Baritone and Conductor based in Birmingham and the North West. He has appeared on stage with ensembles such as the Hallé, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, the London and Manchester Concert Orchestras, the Oxford Festival Orchestra and the Oxford Millenium Orchestra at most major locations in the UK. He has appeared as a soloist for Lichfield Cathedral Chorus, New College Opera, the North of England Festival Chorus, the Liverpool Concert Orchestra, the Lichfield Camerata, Ludlow Choral Society, the Philharmonic Choir, Coventry Cathedral, the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, and the Concordia Choir. A recent performance of Dvorak’s Te Deum praised his “great musical sensitivity, and a full … richness of tone.”

 

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A singer notable for his rich tone, musical intelligence and charismatic performances, he has also been commended for his interpretation of Fauré’s Requiem, in which “[He] gave a masterclass in Latin/Italian diction, particularly in his operatic Libera me.” Will has worked with some of the most notable liturgical foundations in the country; including Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Birmingham St Chad’s Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral London -  Birmingham St Philip’s Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, Manchester Cathedral, Coventry Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral Oxford, Magdalen College Oxford and New College Oxford. Amongst freelance commitments, he currently sings regularly with St Chad’s Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, Ex Cathedra, Coventry Cathedral, New College Oxford and the Birmingham Oratory, as well as being one of the accompanists for Northern Ballet and previously holding the position of Cathedral Assistant Musician at Lichfield Cathedral. He is also active overseas; notably, since 2024, he has been regularly booked by the Bavarian Royal Family to rehearse and perform with a sponsored choir in Sweden. In September, he is due to start a new post of Director of Music at St David’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas. 

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Will is also a freelance conductor; having started having lessons at the age of 10, he has conducted choirs, orchestras and chamber groups for most of his life. He held, in his final year of University, the position of Principal Conductor of the Hertford College Orchestra in Oxford University, the Manager and Associate Conductor of the Oxford Festival Orchestra and the Director of Music of Hertford College Chapel. He has conducted the Welsh National Opera Orchestra, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Northern College of Music Symphony Orchestra, the Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oxford Festival Orchestra, the Liverpool Mozart Players, the Duet Philharmonic Orchestra, the Thallein Ensemble and Ensemble ISIS, and assisted conductors including Kazuki Yamada, Mike Seal, Mark Wigglesworth, Marios Papadopoulos, Vasily Petrenko, Domingo Hindoyan, Ronald Corp OBE and Hilary Davan-Wetton.

 

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A proud Mancunian, he attended The Manchester Grammar School alongside the Royal Northern College of Music during his formative years. Through majoring in studies including voice, organ, conducting, piano and trumpet, he earned the position of Organ Scholar at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in his gap year, before moving in 2020 to Oxford University with an Organ Scholarship to Hertford College. 

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Among some of Will’s mentors include Alastair Miles, Peter Stark, Michael Seal, Hilary Davan-Wetton, James Gilchrist, Miriam Allan, Dr. Ian Tracey, Ewa Strusińska, Dr John Traill, Anna Tilbrook, Colin Walsh and James Potter.