Adam Assen, who took up the post of Music Director of the Downland Chorale in September 2007, is an accomplished musician with a wide experience of conducting, composing and performing. His background is both classical and non-Western, in particular African music.

Adam holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Surrey as well as having taken part in a Music Industry Training Programme and an Orchestral Conducting Course with the City Lit University. Adam has also taken a postgraduate course in Choral Education at University of Roehampton.

Adam is passionate about choral conducting and has received tuition from inspiring, eminent classical conductors such as Bob Chilcott, John Rutter and David Lawrence. He has also observed training for gospel conducting from Karen Gibson from the Kingdom Choir. He has worked extensively with the Prague Conservatoire string section and Barisons Brass Band and been assistant Musical Director to the Fitznells School of Music in Surrey.

He has conducted a wide range of repertoire including many major choral works as well as more experimental and contemporary works. He also regularly conducts gospel music covering both traditional and modern repertoire.

In addition to his work as a conductor Adam has written a wealth of music for schools which has sold extremely successfully over the last 10 years. This has included the 'Jubilee Anthem', 'Sharing Music' (written for children with autism), 'What an Amazing Thing' (a Christmas musical), 'Noah – The Musical' and 'Tout Le Monde' a festival of music from around the world. He is also regularly commissioned to write choral pieces for schools.

Adam is a trained pianist and percussionist and has performed in some outstanding venues and events. These include Westminster Abbey, Trentino Choral Festival, The Commonwealth Institute, The Carling Academy Islington, Festival Hall – Tokyo, The Royal Festival Hall and many others.