Eamonn Dougan

Eamonn Dougan is an inspirational communicator with a wide-ranging repertoire and is a renowned vocal coach and baritone. “Dougan and his team [Britten Sinfonia] displayed masterly control… Singing without blemish; playing that leapt straight from the heart: here was a sterling performance” (The Times – MacMillan Seven Last Words); Eamonn is Associate Conductor of The Sixteen, founding Director of Britten Sinfonia Voices, Music Director of the Thomas Tallis Society, and Chief Conductor for Jersey Chamber Orchestra.

Recent conducting debuts have included Haydn Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross for English National Opera “This was a triumph. Dougan clearly loves the work and brought a real sense of style to the orchestra while finding lightness from the large chorus” (Seen and Heard), Handel Semele at Sibelius Summer Academy and Handel Acis and Galatea for Ryedale Festival Opera. His recent season has also included directing concert performances for the Royal Academy of Music’s Bach European series, Dvořák Stabat Mater with University of York Choir and Orchestra, and Jersey Chamber Orchestra. Upcoming engagements include conducting De Profundis in a new disc series of Morales complete Masses and Magnificats and the Irish Chamber Choir in a MacMillan programme. He will return to conduct Cumnock Tryst Festival Chorus in 2023 and for the festival’s tenth anniversary in 2024.

Highlights have included the world premiere of James MacMillan All the Hills and Vales Along at the Cumnock Tryst Festival and conducting the off-stage chorus for Berlioz L’Enfance du Christ with The Hallé, Britten Sinfonia Voices and Genesis Sixteen for BBC Proms 2019 at the Royal Albert Hall. He assisted Sir Mark Elder for Opera Rara’s world premiere concert and recording of Puccini Le Villi with London Philharmonic Orchestra and their recent recording Zingari. Eamonn directed The Sixteen’s highly acclaimed tour of Australia and Singapore, Messiah with Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León and Cappella Amsterdam, made his Spanish debut with the Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa and Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, and in Paris at the La Seine Musicale with renowned ensemble Accentus and in Copenhagen with Danish National Symphony Orchestra, VokalEnsemblet and KoncertKor. Eamonn directed De Profundis on their Hyperion release Juan Esquivel’s Missa Hortus Conclusus to critical acclaim: “passionate singing to create an extremely enjoyable and atmospheric recording.” (Gramophone)

Founder of Britten Sinfonia Voices he has conducted the ensemble in several world premieres including Sir John Tavener Flood of Beauty, Ēriks Ešenvalds Aqua, Nico Muhly Looking Forward for the Britten Sinfonia’s 20th birthday and the choral premiere of Jóhann Jóhannsson Orphée at the Barbican. Other projects with the Britten Sinfonia have included Bach St John Passion, MacMillan St Luke Passion and Seven Last Words, Britten Curlew River, Birtwistle Yan Tan Tethera, Possibly Colliding: Session Six and a programme of Stravinsky & Mozart at Milton Court as part of the Barbican’s Esa-Pekka Salonen composer focus. He has assisted various conductors including Sir James MacMillan, Martyn Brabbins, Andreas Delfs, Adam Fischer and Sir Mark Elder.

Eamonn has conducted BBC Singers, Narodowe Forum Muzyki Choir, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid (ORCAM), Irish Baroque Orchestra, Corinthian Chamber Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Trondheim Barokk, Wroclaw Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Orchestra North East and London Chamber Orchestra. Eamonn curated and conducted a ‘A Weekend of Excessively Good Taste’ (French Baroque) at Kings Place, London and his developing opera work has included Dido and Aeneas, Mozart La finta giardiniera, and Cosi fan tutte with Ryedale Festival Opera.

Eamonn has a highly successful five-disc Polish Baroque series with The Sixteen. The first disc, music by Bartlomiej Pekiel, was met with widespread critical acclaim and was shortlisted for a Gramophone Award (‘Richly dramatic’ – The Observer; ‘A delightful performance’ – BBC Music Magazine). Subsequent discs in the series include The Blossoming Vine, music by Gorczycki, and Helper and Protector. The fifth disc, music by Marcin Mielczewski, was released in 2017. “The sound is radiant throughout and well balanced … each work is finely shaped by director Eamonn Dougan.” (Limelight Magazine)

Eamonn is a Visiting Professor to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, where he teaches ensemble singing and directs the Guildhall Consort. During the Autumn 2020 term, Eamonn was Acting Director of Music – Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford. Eamonn read music at New College, Oxford, before continuing his vocal and conducting studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Eamonn Dougan is managed worldwide by Percius.

Eamonn Dougan conducted Chamber Choir Ireland in a programme of works by James MacMillan, alongside those of MacMillan’s Renaissance influences and contemporary protégés, entitled ‘O Radiant Dawn‘ in November 2022.

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