Wellington College, Shanghai welcomes Mr Mark Batten as Director of Music

Mark was born in Bristol and educated at Clifton College. He read music at Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating in 2004 with a master’s degree specializing in early 20th-century French music and receiving the prize for organ performance. He began his teaching career at Oakham School in Rutland and Brighton College in Sussex, before being appointed to his present post of Head of Academic Music at Brighton College, Abu Dhabi. Mark is passionate about choral music in all its forms. During his time at Brighton College, Abu Dhabi, Mark has directed numerous theatre productions, including the first licensed performances in Abu Dhabi of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical ‘Cats’ and Willy Russell’s musical ‘Blood Brother’. He also recently prepared the College’s choirs for a concert with the acclaimed operatic bass-baritone Bryn Terfel. In addition to his work at Brighton College, Abu Dhabi, Mark is also Director of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Chorus. Mark feels honored to be appointed the first Director of Music at Wellington College International Shanghai and looks forward to the challenge of building a centre of musical excellence in the Far East. Mark says of his appointment: “I am very excited about the opportunity of becoming the first Director of Music at Wellington College Shanghai. I firmly believe that children are capable of excellence and my philosophy as an educator has always been under¬standing through enjoy¬ment. I look forward to meeting your children and sharing with them the joy of high-quality music-making. “As a musician and edu¬cator I am particularly passionate about choral music. I was a chorister in the chapel choir at Clifton College, before reading music at Bir¬mingham Conservatoire where I held the organ scholarships at the city’s two cathedrals and worked closely with their professional adult and children’s choirs. “Alongside my work as a choral director I have had the privilege of teaching in two of England’s finest independent schools, Oakham School and Brighton College. For the past three years I have been Head of Academic Music and Choirs at Brighton College’s first international school in Abu Dhabi. “In the British independent school system communal music-making is fundamental to school life and it is my vision to bring this ethos to Wellington College Shanghai. I look forward to sharing this with you at some of our many events. In the meantime please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any specific questions.”