All welcome to rehearsals - 7.30pm, Christ's Church, Harrogate
07711 945929
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President
Brian Kay |
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Vice President
Marilynne Davies |
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Patron
Terry Bramall
Terry Bramall
David Lawrence
Music Director and Conductor
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We were delighted in the Autumn of 2021 to appoint David Lawrence as our Music Director. David Lawrence is one of the UK's most versatile conductors, working with orchestras, symphony choruses and national youth choirs. He was recently nominated for a Gramophone Award for his conducting, has recently been awarded a prestigious ARAM by the Royal Academy of Music, and holds the Guinness World Record for conducting the UK's largest choir of 6,846 singers.
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David's work has taken him to Singapore, Colombia, Canada, the United States, India, the United Arab Emirates, throughout Europe, and Australia. He is a popular guest conductor, and he is an experienced and respected trainer of choral conductors. He has Adjucated for international festivals and at the BBC Choir of the Year and Young Musician of the Year competitions. With particular experience in the field of contemporary music, David has prepared and conducted premiére performances by Per Nørgård, Pierre Boulez, Iannis Xenakis, Mauricio Kagel, Graham Fitkin, James Wood, Bob Chilcott and others. As a guest chorusmaster of the Netherlands Radio Choir he has worked with many conductors such as Kenneth Montgomery, Frans Brüggen, and John Adams, and in 2002 working closely with Stockhausen he also conducted this exceptional choir in the German premiére of Scene II from his opera Sontag aus Licht.
David has conducted the London Philharmonic Choir, Hallé Choir, London Symphony Chorus, the CBSO Chorus for whom he is an Associate Conductor, and the national youth choirs of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. He has directed large scale education projects with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, the English Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and of course the CBSO. In 2011 David conducted an award winning performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Barrier Reef Orchestra in Queensland, and has conducted the CBSO in a massed performance of Carmina Burana, the Orchestra of Opera North with their Inspiration Choir, Vaughan WIlliam’s Sea Symphony for Hull’s City of Culture Festival and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Huddersfield Choral Society for the BBC's Songs of Praise.
David is Choral Advisor to Sinfonia Viva with whom he has worked closely since 1998. He is the conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra's Community Choir and Senior Youth Choir, and as Principal Conductor of Young Voices, a position he has held for 20 years, directs massed choirs in an annual series of concerts with some choirs incorporating more than 8,000 singers!
In 2021 he was delighted to be invited to take the reins of the Harrogate Choral Society. Other highlights for 2021 and 2022 include a return to Australia for his 17th visit, where he will conduct in Tasmania and Queensland, a return to live singing with Sinfonia Viva, preparation of the LSO Community and Youth Choirs for Sir Simon Rattle, the 2022 season of Young Voices concerts, and getting to know the singers at Harrogate.
David has conducted the London Philharmonic Choir, Hallé Choir, London Symphony Chorus, the CBSO Chorus for whom he is an Associate Conductor, and the national youth choirs of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. He has directed large scale education projects with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, the English Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and of course the CBSO. In 2011 David conducted an award winning performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Barrier Reef Orchestra in Queensland, and has conducted the CBSO in a massed performance of Carmina Burana, the Orchestra of Opera North with their Inspiration Choir, Vaughan WIlliam’s Sea Symphony for Hull’s City of Culture Festival and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Huddersfield Choral Society for the BBC's Songs of Praise.
David is Choral Advisor to Sinfonia Viva with whom he has worked closely since 1998. He is the conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra's Community Choir and Senior Youth Choir, and as Principal Conductor of Young Voices, a position he has held for 20 years, directs massed choirs in an annual series of concerts with some choirs incorporating more than 8,000 singers!
In 2021 he was delighted to be invited to take the reins of the Harrogate Choral Society. Other highlights for 2021 and 2022 include a return to Australia for his 17th visit, where he will conduct in Tasmania and Queensland, a return to live singing with Sinfonia Viva, preparation of the LSO Community and Youth Choirs for Sir Simon Rattle, the 2022 season of Young Voices concerts, and getting to know the singers at Harrogate.
Thomas Moore
Deputy Music Director and Principal Accompanist
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Thomas Moore was born in Leicester and received his early education in the city, including lessons at the piano, organ and trombone. He was a treble chorister in Leicester Cathedral Choir and whilst there took organ lessons with the Assistant Organist at the Cathedral, Geoffrey Carter. Tom studied music at A level on a specialist music course run by Charles Keene College in Leicester, then went to Huddersfield University to undertake undergraduate and post graduate degrees and is a Bachelor of Music and Master of the Arts in Performance Studies.
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After completing his university studies, Tom gained his Associateship, and then Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists. He was appointed as Assistant Organist at Peterborough Cathedral the year after he finished his Masters degree and spent four years in post.He was then appointed Assistant Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral, a role which included playing for many of the services in the Cathedral, plus the training and direction of the girl choristers of the cathedral choir. Between 2010 and 2020 Tom was the Director of Music at the cathedral. During this time he directed the choir through numerous recordings, broadcast, national and international tours. Many of the choristers went on to study music at higher level and to forge their own careers in music. Four of his choristers reached the final of BBC chorister of the year. Tom himself played twice in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II, having had the unusual honour of taking part in two Royal Maundy services, at Bradford in 1997 and at Wakefield in 2005.
Tom has sustained a long-standing desire to encourage amateur music-making through his extensive work with choral societies in the last quarter of a century. He has worked with many notable ensembles and musicians, particularly in the north of England. He has recently been appointed as Music Director with the Northampton Philharmonic Choir and looks forward to exciting performances with the choir, whilst continuing his work as Deputy Music Director and Principal Accompanist for Harrogate Choral Society.
Through music, Tom has been fortunate to have been able to travel to many countries of the world, to have recorded and broadcast music live for television and radio and on commercial labels, and to have worked in magnificent spaces with highly respected individuals and ensembles. He feels fortunate to have received such opportunities, and hopes that he has been able to, and will remain able to, inspire and encourage others though the love of making music together.
Tom has sustained a long-standing desire to encourage amateur music-making through his extensive work with choral societies in the last quarter of a century. He has worked with many notable ensembles and musicians, particularly in the north of England. He has recently been appointed as Music Director with the Northampton Philharmonic Choir and looks forward to exciting performances with the choir, whilst continuing his work as Deputy Music Director and Principal Accompanist for Harrogate Choral Society.
Through music, Tom has been fortunate to have been able to travel to many countries of the world, to have recorded and broadcast music live for television and radio and on commercial labels, and to have worked in magnificent spaces with highly respected individuals and ensembles. He feels fortunate to have received such opportunities, and hopes that he has been able to, and will remain able to, inspire and encourage others though the love of making music together.
Anthony Gray
Deputy Music Director, Accompanist and Director of Beati
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Anthony Gray is an organist, choir director and composer based in Yorkshire. Born in Scarborough, he was a chorister at Blackburn Cathedral before moving back to Yorkshire, where he was educated at Ilkley Grammar School. Studying the organ with Edward Scott and Alexander Woodrow, he became organ scholar at Bradford Cathedral for two and a half years, before reading music at Robinson College, Cambridge, where he held the Basil Shone Organ Scholarship.
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He was also the organist for St John’s Voices and the accompanist for the Cambridgeshire Choral Society. He undertook a number of major CD recordings and tours with the Robinson College Choir, St John’s Voices and The Robinson Consort to destinations worldwide and within the UK. He also played organ and harpsichord continuo for many major works in venues as widespread as Cambridge, Hong Kong and Singapore. Anthony also took on Musical Director roles for a variety of theatre productions in Cambridge.
Between 2018 and 2019 he was Organ Scholar at Southwell Minster where he accompanied and directed the cathedral’s three choirs alongside Paul Provost and Simon Hogan, as well as training the younger members of the music foundation. Here he also directed the re-formed West Trent Choir.
He returned to Yorkshire and was appointed Director of Music at St Wilfrid’s Church, Harrogate, in September 2019. In the summer of 2023 he became the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Halifax Choral Society leading Britain’s oldest choral society in its annual season of concerts. He is also Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral, which includes a leading role in educating the young people of the music foundation. He has also been an Organ Tutor for the Diocese of Leeds’ Keyboard Training Programme since 2020 and has undertaken teaching roles at Rishworth School and Harrogate Ladies’ College. In 2024 he was appointed as a Deputy Music Director of the Harrogate Choral Society as well as directing their subsidiary group of female voices, Beati.
In his work as a composer, Anthony was shortlisted in the final of the BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition with his setting of Imtiaz Dharker's Go To The Child. In 2022 he won the Harold Smart Memorial Composition Competition, setting a text for RSCM Music Sunday. He has recently been commissioned by The Cornwall Organ and Choral Academy, Vocalis Chamber Choir, Harrogate Ladies’ College, Leeds Cathedral and a major organ cycle for organist Simon Hogan.
Between 2018 and 2019 he was Organ Scholar at Southwell Minster where he accompanied and directed the cathedral’s three choirs alongside Paul Provost and Simon Hogan, as well as training the younger members of the music foundation. Here he also directed the re-formed West Trent Choir.
He returned to Yorkshire and was appointed Director of Music at St Wilfrid’s Church, Harrogate, in September 2019. In the summer of 2023 he became the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Halifax Choral Society leading Britain’s oldest choral society in its annual season of concerts. He is also Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral, which includes a leading role in educating the young people of the music foundation. He has also been an Organ Tutor for the Diocese of Leeds’ Keyboard Training Programme since 2020 and has undertaken teaching roles at Rishworth School and Harrogate Ladies’ College. In 2024 he was appointed as a Deputy Music Director of the Harrogate Choral Society as well as directing their subsidiary group of female voices, Beati.
In his work as a composer, Anthony was shortlisted in the final of the BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition with his setting of Imtiaz Dharker's Go To The Child. In 2022 he won the Harold Smart Memorial Composition Competition, setting a text for RSCM Music Sunday. He has recently been commissioned by The Cornwall Organ and Choral Academy, Vocalis Chamber Choir, Harrogate Ladies’ College, Leeds Cathedral and a major organ cycle for organist Simon Hogan.
Trustees
Co - Chairs - Paul Jackson and Amy Moseley
Treasurer - Ruth Pridmore
Business Managers - Paul Jackson and Amy Moseley
Trustees - Marilynne Davies, Emma Littlewood, Alastair Martin, Kate Rogata
Committee Secretary (non Trustee) Katharine Bruce
Treasurer - Ruth Pridmore
Business Managers - Paul Jackson and Amy Moseley
Trustees - Marilynne Davies, Emma Littlewood, Alastair Martin, Kate Rogata
Committee Secretary (non Trustee) Katharine Bruce
The Membership Team
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Paul Jackson As well as being Co-Chair, Paul has overall responsibility for membership matters and is the first point of contact for potential new Tenors and Basses. |
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Sally Jackson Sally acts as the deputy in respect of membership matters and is the first point of contact for potential new Sopranos and Altos. |
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Anna Thornhill-Jones Anna is our music mentor for members. She can provide initial support for new or existing members in relation to musical issues. |
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Our Voice Reps
Our Voice Representatives are the first point of contact for existing members. They offer pastoral support if needed, are happy to deal with any queries and can feedback to the committee. As they oversee rehearsal attendance, it is important to let them know if you cannot attend a rehearsal as they keep an eye out for any unexpected absences.
Our Voice Representatives are the first point of contact for existing members. They offer pastoral support if needed, are happy to deal with any queries and can feedback to the committee. As they oversee rehearsal attendance, it is important to let them know if you cannot attend a rehearsal as they keep an eye out for any unexpected absences.
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Sally Jackson Soprano 1 |
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Jean Clay Soprano 2 |
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Anna Thornhill-Jones Alto 1 |
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Jane Burniston Alto 2 |
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Stephen Murdoch Tenor |
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Bryan Dexter Bass |