Willcocks, Sir David (1919-2015), was a British organist, teacher, and choral conductor. He conducted the world premieres of a number of choral works. He especially won acclaim for his work with the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. As its main conductor from 1957 to 1974, he produced a distinctive sound of great purity and technical brilliance. He was also conductor of the Bradford Festival Choral Society from 1956 to 1974. From 1960 to 1998, Willcocks directed the London Bach Choir. He was director of the Royal College of Music from 1974 until 1984.
David Valentine Willcocks was born on Dec. 30, 1919, in Newquay, in Cornwall. He began his musical training as a chorister at Westminster Abby from 1929 to 1934. He was knighted in 1977. Willcocks died on Sept. 17, 2015.
