Edward Button

My love of singing began at the age of just seven when I was given a choristership in the Chapel Choir at Warwick School. At first the early Sunday mornings were a struggle, but after a few months I was raring to leave the house to get to practice. After finishing school, I read geography at Girton College, Cambridge where I won a choral scholarship and the Tom Mansfield Memorial Prize in recognition of my contribution to College music. During my university years I was keen to have somewhere to sing outside the Cambridge terms; I became an honorary member of the choir of the Collegiate Church of Saint Mary Warwick, a place that I consider a musical home.
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After graduating I was appointed as the Alto Lay Clerk at King’s College, Cambridge. I sang seven services each week as well as undertaking a busy schedule of recording, touring and broadcasting which included the famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast to millions of people across the planet. I also sang in Collegium Regale (now The King’s Men), the close harmony group made up of the King’s Choral Scholars; I sang a vast variety of music from Byrd to the Beatles. I then spent two inspiring years as a volunteer in Gonville and Caius College Choir. I was fortunate enough to take part in two groundbreaking recording projects; a programme featuring ancient Celtic chant accompanied by instruments that I had never seen, heard, or heard of before, and a disc of contemporary South American music.
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For two glorious years from 2017 I had the pleasure of serving HM The Queen, as the Alan Kendall Countertenor, one of the six Gentlemen, in her choir at the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace. Highlights of my time include a service marking the centenary of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the presence of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, filming Elizabeth I’s Battle for God’s Music, a BBC television programme presented by Lucy Worsley, and recording a disc of Thomas Tallis. Singing aside, I am an experienced fundraiser and have been trained in the Law. Much of my free time is spent running a small charity in Warwickshire, Rufus’ Friends’ Fund, with my family, the charity was set up in memory of my late uncle who had learning disabilities. Otherwise I love meditating, collecting antiques and walking; much of my childhood was spent in the countryside, making campfires, damming streams and generally getting muddy!
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I am indebted to my family for nurturing my love of singing, especially my mum and dad, Delia and Nick, who waited in the car for me during countless singing lessons and choir practices, and my sister, Bertie, for sitting through service after service and concert after concert! I wish I had the space to thank all my singing teachers, directors of music, musical colleagues and friends who have supported me, and from whom I have learned so much. Over the years I have realised that there are few better things in life than making music; the creativity is limitless, helping people to feel their emotions is exhilarating, and the teamwork has resulted in lasting friendships.