A choral conductor in the grand English tradition, Andrew Nethsingha has nevertheless introduced such novelties as webcasts with the Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge, where he serves as music director. Nethsingha has conducted not only other choirs but also symphony orchestras around Britain and the world. Nethsingha was born on May 16, 1968, and grew up in Exeter, England. His father, Lucian Nethsingha, was of Sri Lankan origin and was organist and choir director at Exeter Cathedral. Andrew had his first musical training as a chorister at the cathedral and soon decided to follow his father's career choice, going on to Clifton College (a prep school in American terms). Nethsingha attended the Royal College of Music and St. John's College, Cambridge, as an organ scholar in each case. He landed a post as assistant organist at Wells Cathedral, and in 1994 began an eight-year stint as Master of the Choristers and organist at Truro Cathedral. At the time, he was the youngest major church organist in Britain. In 2002, Nethsingha became choir director at Gloucester Cathedral; at both Truro and Gloucester, he succeeded David Briggs. The Gloucester post entailed additional responsibilities: Nethsingha conducted the Gloucester Choral Society and choirs at the venerable Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester. In 2007, he assumed his present position at his alma mater, St. John's College, Cambridge, an organization that dates back to 1511. However, he has introduced contemporary innovations. The choir has made Internet broadcasts, and Nethsingha is quite active on Twitter. His activities have broadened since he assumed his St. John's post. He has conducted orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, in both choral and orchestral repertory, including Gershwin's An American in Paris with the RPO. Nethsingha has toured worldwide as a conductor, leading a performance of Handel's Messiah, HWV 56, in China. With the St. John's College Choir, he has recorded extensively for the Chandos label and then for Signum Classics, where he and the choir released the album Magnificat, featuring contemporary British settings of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis canticles, in 2019. That same year, Nethsingha's wife, Lucy Nethsingha, was elected as a member of the European Parliament, representing the Liberal Democrat party. ~ James Manheim
