Royal Russell School Music

Hugh Sutton

Hugh Sutton (Director of Music & Precentor) began his musical career as a Chorister of Wimborne Minster under Barry Ferguson and later Christopher Dowie (former Director of Music at Royal Russell 1973-1977). He went on to read Music at the University of East Anglia during which time he was a Choral Scholar and then a Lay Clerk at Norwich Cathedral. In this period, he made numerous BBC and commercial recordings and broadcasts as well as regular international tours.

Having studied Organ with Adrian Lucas and Singing with David Pollard he went on to Postgraduate Singing Studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was able to combine this course with much professional singing with many of London’s leading professional choirs including St Paul’s Cathedral choir. His work as a professional singer took him all over the United Kingdom, allowing him the opportunity to work as a soloist with leading conductors including William Christie, Sir George Guest and Sir David Willcocks.

Hugh Sutton continued his academic studies with a Masters in Education at Exeter University, a PGCE at UEA in Norwich and the ARCM qualification. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2009. Having been Director of Music at schools in Norfolk and London, Hugh Sutton became Director of Music and Precentor at Royal Russell School in 1996 where he enjoys leading a very busy Department. Under his leadership the Music Department has flourished and expanded beyond all recognition of what is was in 1996 and it is now one of the flagships of Royal Russell.

Well known as a leading choral and orchestral conductor Hugh Sutton has developed many musical opportunities for all students and the variety and quality of these opportunities for pupils and high standard of performance achieved in the many concerts given every year are a great testimony to his infectious enthusiasm for the subject. Hugh Sutton is also the Musical Director of the Carshalton Choral Society.

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Carshalton Choral Society was founded in 1946 with the aim of promoting and performing a wide variety of music. The Society numbers around 80 members and has a busy schedule of at least 4 concerts per year, often with extra events such as 'Come and Sing' concerts, performing at local festivals, carol singing at a local hospice and even foreign tours. The majority of our performances each season are attended by local eminent dignitaries, such as the Mayor of Sutton and our local MP, Tom Brake.