by Liam

Jack’s style of managing the choir was unique and unashamedly his. His emotions were very close to the surface, so much so that at times he would openly weep in front of us (‘Mysteries’). In seeing this it helped me to feel my own emotions that I tend to hide behind hurried explanations and complicated fixes. By modelling and encouraging us to bring our feelings to our performance I learned to speak (sing) out against a sense that something was not right (‘Hurt Me’), process loneliness and beauty (‘Little Girl Blue’), and enjoy shamelessness (‘Deep’).

I am grateful to him for this but acknowledge it must not have been easy. For him, someone whose emotions were so close to the surface, it must have been very painful to be overwhelmed by the music of others, and by the music of his own heart.