Founder and Musical Director
GRENVILLE JONES - Founder and Musical Director
BATH Good Afternoon Choir and DEVIZES Good Afternoon Choir
Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Grenville in May 2009 when he launched the very first Good Afternoon Choir - Bath Good Afternoon Choir. The Bath Good Afternoon Choir is still going strong and, as you can see from this website, he has launched many more since!
Where to start telling you about the man called Bath’s Mr. Music by the Bath Chronicle. He has appeared on the BBC Children in Need TV programme with Gareth Malone and was one of the ‘100’ judges for two consecutive years on the BBC1 ALL TOGETHER NOW popular Saturday night show. With his many choirs Grenville has raised thousands of pounds for various charities across the UK in the last 25 years.
Grenville runs two Good Afternoon Choirs himself and through his Grenville Music Ltd office in Westfield, Radstock supports the talented team of professional musicians who run the remaining choirs. He is also the Founder of the Bath Male Voice Choir and supports his son, Laurie, in his role as the choir's Musical Director.
He is founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity, and has appeared on radio and TV across the world. ‘Goldies’ (not a choir!) as it has become fondly known has developed to the point where it delivers over 160 weekly fun, SING&SMILE daytime sessions across England and Wales. For many of the people attending Goldies, it is their only social time of the week. Grenville has received many accolades for his work with the charity, but is anxious to make a point that it is the fabulous team of session leaders, and (most importantly) the hundreds of people who enjoy the fun singing sessions, who are taking Goldies forward.
Grenville's background includes a number of years managing newspapers as well as a period working as a freelance for the BBC in Bristol. He built up his own successful PR and Marketing company in the 80s and 90s and also a magazine company publishing golf titles. Singing was always part of a Methodist home upbringing in Purton near Swindon. He used to have a tenor voice but G says that many years of choir conducting his voice have strained his voice now to a poor bass.
To find out more visit Grenville's website at www.grenvillejones.biz
BATH Good Afternoon Choir and DEVIZES Good Afternoon Choir
Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Grenville in May 2009 when he launched the very first Good Afternoon Choir - Bath Good Afternoon Choir. The Bath Good Afternoon Choir is still going strong and, as you can see from this website, he has launched many more since!
Where to start telling you about the man called Bath’s Mr. Music by the Bath Chronicle. He has appeared on the BBC Children in Need TV programme with Gareth Malone and was one of the ‘100’ judges for two consecutive years on the BBC1 ALL TOGETHER NOW popular Saturday night show. With his many choirs Grenville has raised thousands of pounds for various charities across the UK in the last 25 years.
Grenville runs two Good Afternoon Choirs himself and through his Grenville Music Ltd office in Westfield, Radstock supports the talented team of professional musicians who run the remaining choirs. He is also the Founder of the Bath Male Voice Choir and supports his son, Laurie, in his role as the choir's Musical Director.
He is founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity, and has appeared on radio and TV across the world. ‘Goldies’ (not a choir!) as it has become fondly known has developed to the point where it delivers over 160 weekly fun, SING&SMILE daytime sessions across England and Wales. For many of the people attending Goldies, it is their only social time of the week. Grenville has received many accolades for his work with the charity, but is anxious to make a point that it is the fabulous team of session leaders, and (most importantly) the hundreds of people who enjoy the fun singing sessions, who are taking Goldies forward.
Grenville's background includes a number of years managing newspapers as well as a period working as a freelance for the BBC in Bristol. He built up his own successful PR and Marketing company in the 80s and 90s and also a magazine company publishing golf titles. Singing was always part of a Methodist home upbringing in Purton near Swindon. He used to have a tenor voice but G says that many years of choir conducting his voice have strained his voice now to a poor bass.
To find out more visit Grenville's website at www.grenvillejones.biz
Choir Leaders
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Andrew Kirk - Conductor & Accompanist
CHEPSTOW Good Afternoon Choir and North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir Andrew is an energetic and versatile freelance choral director, accompanist and composer/arranger working mainly in the Bristol and North Somerset area. He is the Musical Director of Henbury Singers, as well as playing the organ and conducting choirs at various churches on Sundays. He is one of the regular accompanists for Melody Makers Choir. He has worked with all age ranges of singer over a 30 year career, in a variety of styles. He was Director of Music at St Mary Redcliffe Church Bristol for two decades, a highlight of which included a live BBC1 TV broadcast on Christmas Day! |
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Barry Hawken - Conductor
NEWQUAY Good Afternoon Choir and Truro Good Afternoon Choir Barry has had a long involvement with music both in the brass band world and with a variety of choral groups. As a freelance music practitioner working with six feeder Primary Academies he has worked with upwards of 800 children each week. Barry has delivered projects for English Touring Opera, the Foundation for Youth Music, Hall for Cornwall as well as Truro Cathedral outreach. For a number of years he was one of the vocal leads working with the Cornwall Youth Choirs. Barry also had a twelve-month project on the Isles of Scilly for the Government’s ‘Sing-Up’ programme. He is currently the Musical Director of the Imerys Mid Cornwall Choir and is the choral researcher for the Cornish Music Archive. |
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Bev McGarey - Conductor
BECKENHAM Good Afternoon Choir Bev has sung with The Carroll Singers since 2000 and is a member of the Hayes Community Singers. She taught Secondary Music for 15 years, including Coloma, Dartford Grammar and Greycoat Hospital School. She is now a qualified Creative Therapist, a mental health profession that uses the creative process of the arts to enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being for all ages. |
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Chris Grabham - Conductor & Accompanist
TAUNTON Good Afternoon Choir Chris is a composer and conductor from Ilminster, Somerset. Chris conducts a large number of choirs, orchestras and bands throughout the South West, including his own highly-acclaimed 'Chris Grabham Pop Orchestra'. As an experienced orchestrator and musical director, Chris enjoys working with a wide variety of musical ensembles. He has led the Taunton Good Afternoon Choir since its inception in August 2021. |
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Corrie Darker - Conductor
MALMESBURY Good Afternoon Choir Corrie has lived in Malmesbury for twelve years and is an active member of the local music community. She conducted her first choir at 14 and has been Assistant Musical Director of the Malmesbury Community Choir since 2019. She also leads and sings with local acapella group, The Minuettes. |
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Craig Northway - Conductor
TORQUAY Good Afternoon Choir Craig studied music at Plymouth University, and since then has enjoyed 20 years in the theatre industry, performing all over the world. Having produced, directed and performed in theatre shows for the last two decades, he has a passion for music and performing. He is currently the Director of Music at St.John’s Church in Torquay, and is so excited to be heading up GAC Torquay. |
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Dana Phoenix - Conductor
SWANSEA Good Afternoon Choir Dana Jean Phoenix is a Canadian composer, singer, and music coach with a passion for community and inclusivity through the arts. A graduate of Sheridan’s music and theatre program in Canada, Dana has toured the world performing in theatre shows as well as with her original music. Her compositions have been featured in Netflix, and recently she co-wrote the theme song to a Canadian children’s TV show called ‘Tiny and Tall’. Dana is proud to now call Wales her home, performing and facilitating music lessons, songwriting workshops, and choral groups locally. Dana loves sharing in the joy of music. |
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John Hare - Deputy Conductor & Accompanist
KEYNSHAM Good Afternoon Choir John is a musician and performer specialising in piano and trumpet. Having spent 20 years as a music teacher, he now works as a freelance session musician playing at festivals and gigs across the UK and Europe. John’s first love was classical music and he still enjoys playing classical repertoire but he now spends most of his time playing folk, rock and musical theatre. |
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John Sandford - Conductor & Accompanist
NORTH BRISTOL Good Afternoon Choir, CIRENCESTER & STROUD Good Afternoon Choir & NORTON RADSTOCK Good Afternoon Choir John is a Choral Music Director with over 30 years' experience running children's and adult choirs. He holds a Certificate of Teaching from the Royal School of Music specialising in voice training. John moved to Bath in 2016 and has immersed himself in the local music scene. He also runs two community choirs in Corsham, plays keyboards in a ceilidh band and bass guitar in a rock band. |
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Jon Rawles - Conductor
MID DEVON Good Afternoon Choir Jon Rawles was born in Bristol, where he gained a choral scholarship at St Mary, Redcliffe under the direction of Anthony Pinel. Jon studied musicology at the University of Durham, directing his own and other college choirs. He then moved to Canterbury where he studied for his post-graduate diploma in piano accompaniment. During his time at Canterbury, he accompanied and directed many shows and performances. An accomplished organist, he has played in most Cathedrals throughout the UK and was the accompanist and musical director of a number of shows in Tunbridge Wells. Jon also led the community choir CREATE, helping to support local events and businesses. He has also recently been the director of the choir at All Saints Hove and leading tours to Chichester, Guildford and Rochester Cathedrals, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral London. In his spare time Jon enjoys spending time outdoors keeping active and travelling, especially on the coast, as well as working in local theatres. |
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Matt Finch - Conductor & Accompanist
CHIPPENHAM & CALNE Good Afternoon Choir, FROME Good Afternoon Choir, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE Good Afternoon Choir and West Wilts Good Afternoon Choir Matt runs 4 popular Good Afternoon Community Choirs every week and loves the fun of singing together and making amazing music during the afternoons. Matt lives in Bath where he is well-known as Musical Director of the Bath Light Operatic Group, you may well have attended one of their wonderful shows at the Bath Theatre Royal in years past. All Good Afternoon Choir members enjoy singing Matt's very special arrangements, especially at the Big Sings when all the Good Afternoon Choirs join together to sing in one venue. |
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Maria Thorne - Conductor
SIDMOUTH Good Afternoon Choir Maria has always loved making music. A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, she's been in many ensembles, from orchestras and professional choirs to contemporary folk and rock bands. Through her years of experience directing community choirs, she's seen their benefits in action. She relishes helping people find fun, friendship and happiness through song. |
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Martin Palmer
FALMOUTH Good Afternoon Choir Martin studied the organ, cello, conducting and composing at London’s Royal Academy of Music whilst singing with the London Philharmonic Choir. For the subsequent two decades he taught in leading London schools, whilst organizing and conducting as many choral and orchestral concerts as possible. For the past 19 years, he has served as Director of Music at Truro School where he built up one of the biggest and busiest departments in the South West, and alongside this, he directed Truro Choral Society and Truro Symphony Orchestra. He now enjoys working with Helston Chamber Choir, Truro Chamber Choir, and Falmouth’s Good Afternoon Choir. He has commissioned and conducted many new works and he enjoys eating Maltesers in large quantities! |
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Nicola Wydenbach - Conductor & Accompanist
SHIRLEY CROYDON Good Afternoon Choir Nicola is a graduate of the Royal College of Music where she was supported by a scholarship from Diva Opera. She has sung for English National Opera, Scottish Opera, the Monteverdi Choir, Philharmonia Voices and London Voices. A highly experienced vocal and choral coach having worked for a number of prestigious music groups, Nicola is also a specialist in working with people living with Parkinson’s and mental health conditions. She is Director of training for Sing to Beat Parkinson’s. We are delighted to welcome her as a member of our talented GAC musical team. |
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Ruth Jenkins - Conductor
WELLS Good Afternoon Choir and South Somerset Good Afternoon Choir Ruth graduated in Music at Birmingham University, specialising in voice and conducting the University Chamber Choir. After training as a Music Therapist at Roehampton Institute, and conducting the Wimbledon YMCA choir, she worked in the NHS for 7 years in school and hospital settings. Since training as a teacher at Warwick University, Ruth has spent the last 15 years teaching music in primary schools and two of her children’s choirs have delighted audiences in recent years as guest performers for Wells GAC. Ruth sings regularly for St Thomas’ Church. |
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Sarah Summers - Conductor
HIGHWORTH WITH SHRIVENHAM Good Afternoon Choir and NORTH SWINDON Good Afternoon Choir Sarah Summers is a Choir Leader and Vocal Health First Aider based in Swindon. With a BA(Hons) in Music and Education and an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, she works with adults to ensure healthy singing and build confidence. Sarah has worked as an accompanist and Musical Director on local amateur theatre projects, as well as teaching piano in schools and to private students. Whilst singing in choirs has always featured throughout Sarah's musical education, it is the discovery of community choirs, and an emphasis on fun and wellbeing, that motivated her to start work as a Choir Leader. She works with several choirs in Swindon, including the Great Western Hospital's NHS Choir and Carers' Voices, which enjoy a similar wellbeing ethos to that of GAC. |
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Sam Chara - Conductor & Accompanist
WEST SUSSEX Good Afternoon Choir Sam Chara is a soprano singer/songwriter, Cabaret artist, and actress who grew up in the Netherlands and was partly raised in France she now lives locally. Her shows were performed all over Europe; the Montreux-Jazz festival in Switzerland, The Paradiso in Amsterdam, Glastonbury Festival, the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, etc. |
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Sian Walters - Conductor
THORNBURY Good Afternoon Choir and YATE & CHIPPING SODBURY Good Afternoon Choir Sian graduated in singing, piano and percussion at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She has been teaching at Tockington Manor School as a Visiting Music Teacher in Singing and Piano since 1998. She has her own private music business called High C's Music Services which she also set up in 1998. Her successes include pupils gaining Music scholarships into private secondary schools, and the famous performing arts sixth form college Hurtwood House, also various music colleges and universities, pupils also gaining places in the prestigious National Youth Choir of Great Britain. Sian has also Musically Directed Youth Drama Groups in the locality, appeared as guest soloist with mixed and male voice choirs, adjudicated in local festivals and directed Youth and Adult Choirs which has gained her over 20 years experience. |
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Steve Urie - Conductor & Accompanist
WEST WICKHAM Good Afternoon Choir Steve studied music, film and television at Canterbury Christ Church and, having taught in Croydon schools for the past 18 years, he is now a part-time primary school music teacher, as well as leading our West Wickham Afternoon Choir. Over the last 25 years, he has been involved in various amateur dramatic societies in West Wickham and Croydon, both on stage and as music director. Favourites to date have been music director for Follow The Star, a musical nativity with St John's Dramatic Society in Selsdon and being on stage with his son in Oliver! at the Churchill Theatre with West Wickham Operatic Society. |
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Tanya Davidson - Conductor & Accompanist
WESTBURY WITH WARMINSTER Good Afternoon Choir Tanya is a pianist and soprano, based in Warminster. Previously accompanist for the Jane Lilley Singers of Bath, Tanya has led youth choirs and musicals, directed and performed in many local theatre productions, and for several years was Assistant Musical Director and Accompanist for Warminster Military Wives Choir. Tanya now runs her own female voice choir in Warminster: Cantiamo… “let’s sing”! |
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Tim Charity supports Grenville with DEVIZES Good Afternoon Choir Tim plays piano for various groups in Wiltshire and very much enjoys accompanying the Devizes GAC. He has played for Devizes Musical Theatre in various productions, and was Musical Director at the Wharf Theatre in Devizes for productions such as Jack the Ripper, and The Gingerbread Man - as well as Panto of course! |
Accompanists
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Aaron Gill- Accompanist MALMESBURY Good Afternoon Choir Aaron is a pianist currently studying ABRSM Grade 8 piano, he studied music for GCSE and is currently studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry for A-Level at Malmesbury School He has a passion for music and regularly accompanies the school orchestra during their Christmas Concerts and Carol services. |
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Carolyn Dutton - Accompanist
YATE & CHIPPING SODBURY Good Afternoon ChoirCarolyn has for 10 years been the Musical Director for ‘The Crossbow Singers’, a four-part community choir celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2025. She thoroughly enjoys conducting and has written several original compositions for the choir alongside regularly arranging other tunes into SATB harmony. She also stands in as guest conductor for Yate & Chipping Sodbury and other GAC choirs on an ad hoc basis. Carolyn has been accompanying group and solo singing for most of her life and gained her DipABRSM for piano teaching in 2019. During her 20 years teaching music in Primary Schools, she established two very popular children’s choirs, and she taught piano privately for several years after retiring. She very much enjoys accompanying Yate and Chipping Sodbury, and other GAC choirs when needed. |
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Charmaine George - Accompanist
THORNBURY Good Afternoon Choir Charmaine grew up in South Africa to a musical family and started teaching at 16 at our home with her mom. She qualified with a ATCL in piano playing. She came to the UK in 2002 and has been involved in teaching within schools covering early years to post 16. She has worked as an accompanist for both choirs & individual singers and musicians for exam work. She also teaches both adults and children privately. |
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Dominic Irving - Accompanist
BATH Good Afternoon Choir Dominic studied composition and piano at Trinity College of Music, before completing a master's degree in film scoring at Bristol University. His piano experience includes everything from concertos to silent film accompaniment, chamber music to function bands. He regularly performs concerts of Chopin and Einaudi in Bristol, London and Birmingham. He can also be found tinkling the ivories with the Pump Room Trio in Bath. |
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Hannah Hawken - Accompanist
TRURO Good Afternoon Choir Hannah began accompanying friends and family at a young age and started accompanying professionally at 15. She studied Music at University of Salford, graduating in 2006. Hannah does a lot of accompanying in the Mid Cornwall area, playing for choirs, festivals and grade exams. She also teaches piano and brass to children and adults. She is principal cornet of St Austell Town Band and plays trumpet for local theatre productions. |
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Martin Neilson - Accompanist
NORTH SOMERSET Good Afternoon Choir Throughout his musical career Martin has enjoyed accompanying singers and instrumentalists in all types of music from concerts to cabaret, recitals to dance bands. He was Head of Music in 2 Secondary Schools in Perth. For 22 years his wife, Marion, and he ran a Youth Choir in Perth, The Fair City Singers, with whom they toured internationally and were several times in the final stages of Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year Competition. Martin was also accompanist to the renowned Glasgow Phoenix Choir. |
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Martyn St James - Accompanist
TORQUAY Good Afternoon Choir Martyn has over 30 years’ experience as a professional musician working holiday parks, theatres and cruise ships as a keyboard player and musical director. An accomplished backing musician who has worked with the likes of Bucks Fizz, Joe Pasquale, Norman Wisdom, Matt Munro, Canon & Ball and Bob Monkhouse during his career. He spent 20 years as musical director for “UK Productions Pantomimes” and toured the UK theatres with Duggie Chapmans wartime variety show “We’ll Meet Again” and Roger Dean’s “Johnny Cash Story”. Martyn also spent 8 years cruising with “Page & Moy” on the Ocean Majesty, Ocean Monarch, and a world cruise on the “Saga Rose” writing and recording over 20 production shows. He moved to Devon to semi retire in 2017 and now works locally as a pianist and entertainer in the hotels and clubs. |
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Peter Gilks - Accompanist MID DEVON Good Afternoon Choir Peter Gilks is a retired Vicar and is currently one of the organist team at Holy Cross Church in Crediton. Before ordination he trained as a musician at Nottingham University, specialising in organ and piano. Over the years he has gained a variety of experience as an accompanist with choral societies and individual performers, in a variety of venues from pubs to cathedrals. |
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Ruth Best - Accompanist FALMOUTH Good Afternoon Choir & NEWQUAY Good Afternoon Choir Ruth studied music at the University of Southampton and continued to study a masters in piano performance. She has been accompanying choirs, instrumentalists and singers for 17 years and is looking forward to being part of the Good Afternoon Choir music team. She plays for several choirs across Cornwall. As well as accompanying, Ruth also plays the organ for 2 churches, is part of a piano trio and does private piano teaching. |
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Sheila Ross - Accompanist
WELLS Good Afternoon Choir Music has always been a passion of Sheila's from a very early age and so, after teacher training - and specialising in music, she taught for 30 years in primary and middle schools with pupils of all ages. However in all that time she always especially enjoyed the time spent encouraging others to perform in shows and concerts. As a result of this she has spent the last 10+ years solely MD-ing and teaching those involved in musical theatre and musical projects of all kinds in different venues. Most of all she really enjoys helping people to believe in themselves and their vocal abilities and to see the sheer pleasure on their faces when they achieve these goals. She also loves accompanying and looks forward to focusing mostly on this with the Wells Good Afternoon Choir members. |
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Tony James - Accompanist Devizes Good Afternoon Choir Tony has taught the piano for over 30 years. He accompanies various choirs including the Trowbridge Philharmonic, Bradford on Avon choir and Devizes White Horse Opera. He was delighted to be asked to be the rehearsal pianist for the GAC choir. He also accompanies students for their instrumental exams and plays background music at wedding receptions. His second instrument is the viola which he plays in his local orchestra. |