“One of our most musical assets – a thoughtful perfectionist and a musician of total integrity.”
Sir Simon Rattle
The Orchestra of St John’s was founded by John Lubbock almost 60 years ago. It takes its name from the orchestra’s first home, the redundant St John’s Church in Smith Square, Westminster. Badly bombed during the last war, this Baroque masterpiece was restored to its former glory and remains one of London’s foremost concert halls.
John Lubbock’s life has music at its core: he was a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, studied singing at the Royal Academy of Music, went on to join the John Alldis choir, was a founder member of the London Symphony Chorus and then one of the Swingle Singers. John is best known today as a conductor and particularly for his long association with the BBC Proms, which included conducting a number of acclaimed world premieres.
In 2023 he accomplished a 64-year-old ambition to join a cathedral choir having not sung that wonderful music since he was a chorister at St George’s chapel Windsor aged 14. He now regularly sings Evensong in Christ Church cathedral to his immense pleasure.
The Orchestra of St John’s was formed while John was still a student at the Royal Academy of Music, and from day one his aim was to create an orchestra that would serve the wider community, taking high quality music to those who might otherwise have little or no experience of it.
He has single-handedly gathered around him a group of distinguished musicians who are not only outstanding performers but who share his ethos of bringing music to people of all ages and from all walks of life.
