Conductor

Photo by Ben Reason

Recent appointments:

  • Principal Conductor, National Youth Choir 18-25

  • Associate Conductor, Learning, the BBC Singers

  • Fernside Chair of Choral Conducting, The Royal Academy of Music

  • Nicholas is a Senior Associate Artist of The Royal Opera House

Nicholas Chalmers is one of the leading conductors in the UK. His energy and vision have seen the establishment of highly successful artistic and education projects and his work impacts thousands of young people each year. Nicholas is driven by a passion to bring classical music to the next generation and to ensure that people in areas of under provision have better access to training and engagement in the performing arts. As founder Artistic Director of Nevill Holt Opera, his 10 year leadership of the company saw the creation of an exquisite new theatre in Leicestershire, which won plaudits for its acoustic design and reached the final of the RIBA Stirling prize in 2019. He is a Senior Associate Artist of the Royal Opera House, where he will make his conducting debut in autumn 2024. Nicholas was conductor of Northern Ireland Opera and works with all leading orchestras and opera companies.

Nicholas is the Associate Conductor, Learning of the BBC Singers and made his BBC Proms conducting debut in 2020 with the group. With the BBC Singers, he has programmed and conducted numerous broadcasts and concerts throughout the UK and helped establish the Singers’ partnership with youth choral groups in Stratford East, the future home of the BBC performing groups. From September 2024, Nicholas takes up the role of Fernside Chair of Choral Conducting at The Royal Academy of Music.

Nicholas made his BBC Proms conducting debut at the First Night of the BBC Proms 2020 with the BBC Singers.

Nicholas Chalmers conducts the BBC Singers BBC Proms Opening Night - 2020 'Sleep' by Eric Whitacre

Tebe poem - Liturgy of St John Chrysostom by Rachmaninov. BBC Singers and Nicholas Chalmers

Recorded in October 2019 in BBC Maida Vale Studio 2. Soprano soloist - Helen Neeves

LATEST

Nevill Holt Theatre shortlisted for 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize

Artistic Director Nicholas Chalmers remarks, ‘Nevill Holt Opera is so proud of its new home and we are delighted that the theatre has been nominated for this prestigious award. The new building has an incredible acoustic, allowing our growing audience to experience opera, with complete clarity, in an exquisite setting. The mixture of building materials, both old and new, support the projection of young voices and have been thrilling our audiences since the opening in 2018. We are so privileged to be able to perform in this award-winning building and incredibly grateful to the David Ross Foundation for investing in a new theatre for the arts in the East Midlands.’

Nevill Holt Theatre

Nevill Holt Theatre

Così fan tutte at Nevill Holt Opera

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‘Nicholas Chalmers conducts the impressive Royal Northern Sinfonia in the pit, highlighting the detail of Mozart’s score while generating vocal excellence on the stage’ The Stage

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Nevill Holt Opera

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‘A terrific ensemble achievement, and Chalmers’s conducting of the outstanding Britten Sinfonia lent the music a special magic in the warm, woody acoustic’ The Sunday Times

Photo: Ali Wright

IMAGES

Instagram

Desperately sad to hear of the death of Sir Eric Anderson, KT. Tony Blair's housemaster at Fettes; in Johnson and Cameron's time, Head Master (later, provost) at Eton; Prince Charles's tutor at Gordonstoun; sometime also rector of Lincoln College, he
Desperately sad to hear of the death of Sir Eric Anderson, KT. Tony Blair's housemaster at Fettes; in Johnson and Cameron's time, Head Master (later, provost) at Eton; Prince Charles's tutor at Gordonstoun; sometime also rector of Lincoln College, head at Abingdon, Shrewsbury. He was Rector @lincolncollegeoxford when I was an undergraduate 1997-2000. When I was awarded the organ scholarship to the college in Sept 1996, he phoned me to tell me and it will remain one of the happiest moments of my life. He took such care with people and he was a gentle and considerate man. May he rest in peace. Thinking of Poppy and his family.
Happy Birthday to my gorgeous brother @chockychalmers. So near and yet so far in these crazy times. Can’t wait to celebrate with you. #family #brothers #londoners
Happy Birthday to my gorgeous brother @chockychalmers. So near and yet so far in these crazy times. Can’t wait to celebrate with you. #family #brothers #londoners
Sunrise Saturday 04 April 2020. Captured by the Director of Music of Southwark Cathedral, Ian Keatley. #london
Sunrise Saturday 04 April 2020. Captured by the Director of Music of Southwark Cathedral, Ian Keatley. #london
Really missing having a glass of wine and fine food @thecarpentersarmsw6 so we made a cake from their pudding list. The recipe for Torta di Capri was written out for us by the Chef and @laurence_kilsby made it today. Looking forward to eating it at h
Really missing having a glass of wine and fine food @thecarpentersarmsw6 so we made a cake from their pudding list. The recipe for Torta di Capri was written out for us by the Chef and @laurence_kilsby made it today. Looking forward to eating it at home and can’t wait for The Carpenters Arms to open again. #homebakery #tortadicapri
We are deeply saddened to share that we have taken the difficult decision to postpone this year’s summer festival at Nevill Holt Opera. The health and safety of everyone we work with at NHO, and of everyone in our audience, is extremely import
We are deeply saddened to share that we have taken the difficult decision to postpone this year’s summer festival at Nevill Holt Opera. The health and safety of everyone we work with at NHO, and of everyone in our audience, is extremely important to us. This is a worrying time for all. We can’t predict exactly what the situation will be in June, but official advice makes clear that it is very unlikely that we would be able to continue safely with our festival this summer. We are contacting all ticket holders for this summer’s festival. We are very concerned by the impact that this postponement will have on Nevill Holt Opera, and on the brilliant young artists and creatives who we work with. As a small festival, without public subsidy, we are doing our very best to find a way to support them at this challenging time and to ensure that Nevill Holt Opera continues to exist for seasons to come. We are working hard to confirm a number of events and performances that will take place before next year’s festival, and will present both La traviata and Don Giovanni as part of our summer festival in 2021. We would like to thank everyone who has supported NHO this year, and look forward to welcoming you to Nevill Holt as soon as it is safe to do so. Annie Lydford (Managing Director) and Nicholas Chalmers (Artistic Director)
Yay it’s Friday. #putyourhandsintheair #washthemfirstplease
Yay it’s Friday. #putyourhandsintheair #washthemfirstplease
Desperately sad to hear of the death of Sir Eric Anderson, KT. Tony Blair's housemaster at Fettes; in Johnson and Cameron's time, Head Master (later, provost) at Eton; Prince Charles's tutor at Gordonstoun; sometime also rector of Lincoln College, he Happy Birthday to my gorgeous brother @chockychalmers. So near and yet so far in these crazy times. Can’t wait to celebrate with you. #family #brothers #londoners Sunrise Saturday 04 April 2020. Captured by the Director of Music of Southwark Cathedral, Ian Keatley. #london Really missing having a glass of wine and fine food @thecarpentersarmsw6 so we made a cake from their pudding list. The recipe for Torta di Capri was written out for us by the Chef and @laurence_kilsby made it today. Looking forward to eating it at h We are deeply saddened to share that we have taken the difficult decision to postpone this year’s summer festival at Nevill Holt Opera. The health and safety of everyone we work with at NHO, and of everyone in our audience, is extremely import Yay it’s Friday. #putyourhandsintheair #washthemfirstplease