Musical Director
In 2023 we warmly welcomed Peter Hunt as our new Musical Director. Peter is an experienced choral conductor with an extensive career in music education. He was a Music Degree student at Dartington College, Devon in the Art Department's vibrant 1970s. The creative approach to practical music-making set a firm foundation for a career in teaching music in secondary schools in London and Oxfordshire, including Director of Performing Arts at Chipping Norton School. He became Head of Voice and then Deputy Head of Service for Berkshire Maestros, the music education hub for Berkshire. In these roles he was responsible for the development of Berkshire Youth Choirs, the county's Singing Strategy, and establishing an Early Years Music Programme for Nursery and Reception children in Berkshire schools.
As a young teacher Peter founded the Oxfordshire Youth Chamber Choir, sang in the BBC Symphony Chorus and many chamber choirs, including as a founder member of the New London Chamber Choir. He also arranged and composed music for his own singing groups.
Peter is the inspiration behind Voiceworks, a series of practical handbooks for singers and leaders, first published in 2001 by Oxford University Press. As series editor, Peter has overseen the production of fifteen handbooks. Recognition of this valuable resource led to his presentations, workshops and keynote speeches at major international singing and education conferences. Other publications include Songstream, a youth songbook, in collaboration with Bob Chilcott, and in 2023 a collection of rounds for choirs - SingCircle Voiceworks - with Edward Caswell.
In 2016 Peter founded a Singing for Wellbeing group and a Parkinson's singing group, both in Banbury. He has explored links between singing and breathing for lung health with The Musical Breath organisation and is delivering its national Foundation Stage workshop training on how to lead group singing confidently. Peter is also a Trustee of Sound Resource, a charity promoting singing for good health.
Peter's choral conducting posts have included Bicester Choral and Operatic Society, Oxford Youth Operatic Society, Oxfordshire Youth Chamber Choir, and North Cotswold Chamber Choir. He conducted the Chipping Norton Choral Society for twenty-four years, enjoying a partnership with Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra. He continues to support the Chipping Norton Music Festival as an adjudicator, advisor, and committee member and conducts the Oxfordshire Festival of Voices Primary Schools' event every summer.
In 2021 Peter, Helen and Jasper the dog moved to Stoke Gabriel in Devon, enjoying partial retirement in the beautiful Dart Valley, exploring its byways on foot and occasionally on the river. Peter currently sings with the Dartington Community Choir and supports the singers with vocal training.
Musical Director 2008 - 2023
Laurence Blyth studied at the University of Exeter and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, where his teachers included Simon Halsey, Adrian Partington and Neil Ferris. He also conducted in masterclasses with Edward Caswell, Peter Broadbent, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, John Butt, Robert Dean and Eric Whitacre.
He enjoys a varied portfolio of freelance singing and conducting across the South-West. In April 2023 Laurence retired as Musical Director after 15 years in which the choir developed and grew, exploring a wide choral repertoire. Highlights included a joint concert in 2017 with three of Laurence's choirs and Exeter Symphony Orchestra, performing Ralph Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony in Exeter Cathedral, and in 2019 the choir performed Karl Jenkins The Armed Man in Southernhay United Reformed Church, to a full house.
Laurence Blyth studied at the University of Exeter and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, where his teachers included Simon Halsey, Adrian Partington and Neil Ferris. He also conducted in masterclasses with Edward Caswell, Peter Broadbent, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, John Butt, Robert Dean and Eric Whitacre.
He enjoys a varied portfolio of freelance singing and conducting across the South-West. In April 2023 Laurence retired as Musical Director after 15 years in which the choir developed and grew, exploring a wide choral repertoire. Highlights included a joint concert in 2017 with three of Laurence's choirs and Exeter Symphony Orchestra, performing Ralph Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony in Exeter Cathedral, and in 2019 the choir performed Karl Jenkins The Armed Man in Southernhay United Reformed Church, to a full house.
Rehearsal accompanist
We are very ably accompanied by Matthew Cann who is also a bass Lay Vicar at Exeter Cathedral, the conductor of The Torbay Singers and Antiphon, a bass soloist, published composer and he also teaches at Exeter School and The Maynard. We are very grateful for Matthew's continued support.
We are very ably accompanied by Matthew Cann who is also a bass Lay Vicar at Exeter Cathedral, the conductor of The Torbay Singers and Antiphon, a bass soloist, published composer and he also teaches at Exeter School and The Maynard. We are very grateful for Matthew's continued support.