Julian Wilkins is a versatile, dynamic and inspiring conductor, organist and pianist, working throughout the UK and overseas with prestigious musical organisations including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and its choruses, BBC Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Swan, Mozart Festival Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Hallé Choir, Huddersfield Choral Society, Brandenburg Sinfonia and Baroque Soloists, East Anglia Chamber Orchestra, Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD), Association of Irish Choirs, BBC Proms Youth Choir, and the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Educated at Wells Cathedral School as a chorister and specialist musician, and at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, as an organ scholar, Julian has performed in many of the world’s cathedrals and leading concert venues as conductor, soloist and accompanist. He has appeared on BBC and independent television and radio, and on Peter Gabriel’s ground-breaking and Grammy-winning soundtrack for Martin Scorsese’s film "The Last Temptation of Christ".
Julian directs the CBSO Youth Chorus and CBSO Children’s Chorus, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir and Camerata, the University of Birmingham Chorus and University of Birmingham Voices. He is Associate Chorus Director of the CBSO Chorus, working with Simon Halsey to prepare them for conductors such as Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Kazuki Yamada, Andris Nelsons, Edward Gardner, Nicholas Collon, Sakari Oramo, Martyn Brabbins, Olari Elts, Gianandrea Noseda, James MacMillan, John Storgårds, Juanjo Mena, Jac van Steen, Valery Gergiev, Vassily Sinaisky, John Wilson, Richard Egarr, Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Mark Elder.
As a respected teacher, mentor, and choral consultant, he is a visiting lecturer at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the University of Birmingham, and is a member of the teaching panel for the ABCD National Conducting Courses. He has directed the Choral Course and with David Lawrence co-directed the Art of Choral Direction course at Sherborne Summer School of Music, and the Sintra International Singing and Choral Conducting Course in Portugal with Ghislaine Morgan.
Julian is in demand as a guest conductor, recitalist, accompanist and choral workshop leader, popular with musicians and audiences of all ages. He has adjudicated at the BBC Young Musician competition, the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the City of Derry International Choral Festival, and for a number of prestigious regional music competitions and festivals around the UK.