Biography
Elliot Mercer is an energetic and engaging conductor, singer and teacher based in London. He is a Conductor in the Royal College of Music Junior Department, Musical Director of Bookham Choral Society, Assistant Choral Director for Holy Trinity Church, Guildford, and Assistant Conductor at the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain. He is also Director of Co-Curricular Music at a leading independent girls’ school in Central London where he has worked since 2020, responsible for its thriving musical scene. He was recently a guest conductor at his alma mater, University of Birmingham, leading their Uni Chorus and regularly deputises for various different choirs across the UK, including regularly with university choirs, choral societies and chamber choirs.
Elliot graduated from the University of Birmingham with a First Class Degree in Music, specialising in choral conducting and music psychology. He has established himself as an in-demand conductor for his educational and musical work. He has worked as a freelance practitioner with organisations such as Tenebrae, London Youth Choirs, Sing for Pleasure, Vache Baroque and Music of Life. Elliot also regularly deputises for various different choirs across the UK, including regularly with University Choruses and Chamber Choirs. He has conducted at many prestigious venues in the UK and abroad, including the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Elliot studied with conducting charity Sing for Pleasure, where he was awarded the John Coates Memorial Baton in 2019. He has since gone on as a conducting scholar for the Crouch End Festival Chorus (2020 - 2021) and enjoyed training and mentorship from conductors such as Simon Halsey, Julian Wilkins, Manvinder Rattan, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, David Temple, Amy Bebbington and Neil Ferris. Elliot has previously worked as Conductor for London Youth Conservatoire, Assistant Conductor of the Birmingham City Council Choir and Conductor for The People’s Show Choir (TPSC) in their flagship Birmingham choir and setting up TPSC in Wimbledon. He also returned to Sing for Pleasure as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and frequently acts as course director on their London courses.
Elliot remains active as a singer, and is passionate about vocal health, completing his Vocal Health First Aid Certificate (Level 2 Qualification) with Vocal Health Education. Previously, he has sung with the BBC Proms Youth Choir, CBSO Chorus and National Youth Choir amongst others. He frequently deputises around London and the surrounding area as a bass soloist, most recently singing for the Sing for Pleasure touring choir, Hertford Choral Society and Milton Keynes Chorale.