Laurence Cummings is a British conductor, harpsichordist, and organist. After graduating from Solihull School, Christ Church, Oxford, he attended the Royal College of Music in London, and studied harpsichord with Jill Severs. He has become renowned as a
Handel scholar and interpreter, and he made his debut in the United States performing with Boston's
Handel and Haydn Society. He has also conducted the
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the
English Concert, the
Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the
Ulster Orchestra,
The Hallé, the
Irish Baroque Orchestra, the
Britten Sinfonia, the
Royal Northern Sinfonia, and other ensembles. Since 1997,
Cummings has been associated in various capacities with the
London Handel Orchestra, the Tilford Bach Society, and the
London Handel Players. He has performed as continuo player with
Les Arts Florissants,
The Sixteen, and the
Gabrieli Consort, and he has also conducted operatic productions with the
English National Opera and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera Company. He has recorded for Accent, Naxos, Somm, and Wigmore Hall Live, among other labels.