Conductor
John Hargreaves is a freelance conductor, music director and percussionist. He has studied conducting with Rob Wiffin, Denise Ham, George Hurst, Peter Stark and John Landor.
John conducted the Lewisham Concert Band from 2016-2024 and has worked with various choral societies, local theatre companies and other groups in the South-East area. He has directed the National Festival Orchestra at the Buxton Opera House and Harrogate Royal Hall and worked with the London Mozart Players. More recently he conducted XBY at the National Concert Band Finals, achieving a Platinum award
John studied percussion with Graham Johns (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) and still plays regularly. He has performed with the XBY Concert Band in national and international competitions, including the World Music Contest (2001-2022). As a jazz/big band/rock drummer, he has led bands at the 100 club, Brecon Jazz Festival, Festival Hall, and Fairfield Halls. He is a member of Trans-Siberian March Band and Route 66. John occasionally composes and orchestrates music. He has yet to publish his opera Il Travesti, which remains on his ‘80% shelf’, along with an unfinished musical, various ideas for making a fortune and a book on why you should never become a teacher. He is a teacher in a school.