Toby Ward was born in Wharfedale in 1993. His formative training came as one of the last choristers of Leeds Parish Church (now Minster) in singing and organ with Dr Simon Lindley and David Houlder, before leaving for Gloucester Cathedral under Adrian Partington as a tenor choral scholar. He is currently mentored in conducting and performance practice by Paul Brough as part of his involvement in the musical tradition at St Mary’s, Bourne St., London.

 

He read music at King’s College, Cambridge with particular focus on early music and continuo alongside a choral scholarship in King’s College Choir under Sir Stephen Cleobury, with whom he toured internationally and performed on BBC radio and television with major solos on the annual Carols from King’s programme. Postgraduate studies in singing with Alison Wells followed at the Royal College of Music prior to the pandemic.  

 

Current posts include organist of the National Musicians Church in the City of London, Praefectus Cantorum of the Grand Priory of England and Tenor Associate Artist of Tenebrae Choir.

 

He has conducted live on Radio 3 with Ensemble Pro Victoria and at major festivals including the London International Early Music Festival, Cambridge Early Music Festival, and is in demand as a guest conductor, repetiteur and continuo player across the capital.

 

Known also for inspiring and developing choristers and young singers, Toby has taught the boy choristers of Durham Cathedral, Newcastle cathedral and Westminster Abbey alongside work as a workshop leader for the Tenebrae schools programme, occasional work with London Youth Choir and a happy spell as acting director of the York Chapter House Youth Choir.

 

Upcoming projects including directing a CD of works by the Victorian great, S.S. Wesley with the Choir of the National Musicians’ Church, also on Delphian Records.