JUSTIN BINDLEY – CONDUCTOR
BIOGRAPHY 2025
Justin Bindley was born in Lancashire and studied singing with John Cameron. He made his debut
as Masetto (Don Giovanni) for British Youth Opera and he subsequently sang for English National
Opera, Opera North, Scottish Opera, New D’Oyly Carte Opera, Carl Rosa Opera, English Bach
Festival (at the Royal Opera House), London Opera Players and many smaller companies. His opera
roles were diverse, from Britten to Verdi. He appeared several times at the BBC proms, appeared on
recordings and DVDs with Virgin Classics, Hyperion, TER records and Naxos. He sang abroad in
several countries including Belgium, France, Holland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
For many years he had a teaching practice in both London and Cheltenham and became more and
more involved in musical direction. He was musical director for The New Savoyards and Voices2go
(including productions of Dido & Aeneas, The Telephone and The Impresario.)
He conducted the recording of Liz Upham’s Carmelite Mass in 2011. He has also been vocal
advisor to the Cheltenham Bach Choir and Newport Cathedral. He was asked to form the Salveo
Singers for the NHS in London, which he directed from 2013 to 2014. He was Music Director of
Ormond Opera 2014 to 2016, including a production of The Pirates of Penzance which he
conducted. From 2017 to 2021 he was Music Director of Kennet Opera, conducting full productions
of Dido & Aeneas, The Magic Flute, Amahl and the night visitors and The Zoo, and many concerts.
Since moving to Norfolk at the end of 2021 he has been appointed Music Director for Harleston
Choral Society (for whom he has conducted Faure Requiem, Corp Christmas Mass, Haydn Stabat
Mater, Vivaldi Gloria, Dvorak Mass in D, Saint Saens Requiem and Haydn Missa Sancti Nicolai,
Carl Orff Carmina Burana and most recently Handel Messiah part 1.) In 2022 he led several
workshops for Southwold Choral Society and Bungay Voices and conducted Bob Chilcott’s On
Christmas Night in December 2022. 2024 engagements included Rutter Sprig of Thyme for the
Carolean Chorus, Haydn Little Organ Mass for Voices2Go Chamber Choir and Poulenc Gloria,
Vivaldi Magnificat and Corp Christmas Mass for Wymondham Choral Society. 2025 engagements
included Cherubini Requiem , Paul Carr Stabat Mater, Matthew Coleridge Requiem and Britten St.
Nicolas for Wymondham Choral Society and several concerts with the Hethersett Singers and
Carolean Chorus ( including the first adult performance of The Legend of Tom Bawcock by
Matthew Jelf). In 2026 he will conduct Puccini Messa di Gloria, Schubert Mass in G and Bruckner
Magnificat for Harleston Choral Society, Stanford Requiem, Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music
and Handel Messiah part 1 for Wymondham Choral Society and Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo
by Horowitz with the Carolean Chorus at Great Yarmouth Minster.