Howard Ionascu

Howard Ionascu is an English choral conductor and musical director, with responsibility currently for the Laudate Choir, the Exeter Philharmonic Choir and Twickenham Choral.

Early life and training

Howard John Paul Ionascu was born in 1971 in Newham, Essex, the son of Isidore Ionascu and Alma (née Gilbert). Ionascu was raised and educated in the East End of London, where he was inspired by music teachers to consider a future in music. In 1990, he attended the University of Manchester to study music, graduating in 1993. Not long after, he launched his teaching career, initially teaching flute and piano for Somerset County Council before acquiring a music Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Bath Spa University in 1997.

Radley College ChapelOn completion of his PGCE, Ionascu moved to Oxford, where he became Head of Academic Music at Radley College in 1997, launching his choral conducting career by founding (and conducting) The Laudate Choir, with whom he made a number of recordings over the next few years, performing with the English Chamber Orchestra and the City of London Sinfonia. At the same time, Ionascu became musical director for the Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir. Over the next few years, Ionascu balanced teaching with musical direction through a series of musical schools, whilst conducting choirs from Oxford to Bournemouth and continuing to work with his increasingly acclaimed Laudate Choir.

Canterbury CathedralIn 2002, Ionascu moved to Canterbury, where he remained for the next eleven years as musical director of The King's School, Canterbury, conducting the Crypt Choir in weekly services at Canterbury Cathedral as well as performing a number of BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 broadcasts, recording three albums, touring the US, Africa, Australia and New Zealand between 2003 and 2012. In 2006 Ionascu was appointed musical director of King's Choral Society, whilst continuing to direct the crypt choir, performing large scale choral works at Canterbury Cathedral with upwards of 180 voices. The following year, Ionascu undertook a six-month conducting fellowship in Australia, seconded to the Cathedral Choir of St. Andrew's school in Sydney, leading workshops and masterclasses across New South Wales. In 2012, he conducted the Crypt Choir with the English Chamber Orchestra to accompany the Tenor Mark Padmore at Canterbury Cathedral. At the end of Ionascu's last year at Canterbury, the choir organised a surprise farewell concert, with speeches reflecting the school's appreciation for the work Howard had achieved over the eleven years of his tenure. Ionascu was appointed the director of music for the Exeter Philharmonic Choir in 2017, and in 2019, he was appointed director of Chapel Music and Quiristers at Winchester College. The new appointments allowed Ionascu to resume a busy schedule of tours, broadcasts and recordings as conductor and guest conductor for a number of choirs and orchestras from London and the South of England, continuing to direct and conduct his own Laudate Choir. In 2024, Ionascu relinquished his teaching position at Winchester and was appointed conductor and musical director at the Twickenham Choral Society.

Discography Source: Whisper it Easily, Laudate Choir, Meridian (1999) The True Vine, Laudate Choir, Meridian (2001) The Choral Music of Herbert Brewer, Laudate Choir,Trophy Records (2002) The Complete New English Hymnal - Volume Sixteen, The King's School Choir, Canterbury, Priory (2003) In Quires and Places, The Crypt Choir of King's School, Canterbury, Herald (2007) A Spotless Rose, The Crypt Choir of King's School, Canterbury, Herald (2009) A Winter's Night - Christmas Music For Choir, Brass Quintet & Organ, Winchester College Chapel Choir, Onyx Brass, Benjamin Cunningham, Signum Classics (2020) Lo, the full, final sacrifice, Winchester College Chapel Choir, London Mozart Players, members of SANSARA and The Laudate Choir Spotify (2024)

Notes and references