Until March 2009 Bill Ives was director of Magdalen College Choir, Oxford, where for 18 years he held the post of Organist, Informator Choristarum and Tutor in Music. During his tenure Magdalen College Choir performed in Japan , the USA and across Europe . In 1999 they made their debut at the BBC Proms, and in association with film composer, George Fenton, they recorded movie soundtracks for Shadowlands, Ever After, and the award-winning BBC television documentary, Blue Planet. In 2001 they gave the first performance of a new choral work by Paul McCartney, Ecce Cor Meum. Magdalen College Choir records for Harmonia Mundi and in 2004 their recording of music by Orlando Gibbons, With a Merry Noyse, was nominated for a Grammy.

From 1978-85 Bill was a member of the celebrated British vocal group, The King’s Singers. He performed over 800 concerts worldwide, appeared on many radio and television programmes, and made more than 20 recordings, including the frog chorus on Paul McCartney’s hit single, We all stand together!

As a composer of choral music, his work reflects his broad musical taste. Since his schooldays he has published regularly (as Grayston Ives) and his church music in particular is gaining recognition and regular performances both in the UK and abroad. He is also known for a large number of vocal arrangements of popular music, some of which have been recorded by The King’s Singers.

Listen Sweet Dove, on the Harmonia Mundi label, is a selection of Bill's compositions, performed by Magdalen College Choir under his own direction.