GRENVILLE JONES - Founder and Musical Director
The Good Afternoon Choir was started by Grenville in May 2009 with the very first Bath Good Afternoon Choir. Over the years that followed, more Good Afternoon Choirs were introduced and now there are over 20 across the West Country with more planned for later this year - click here to FIND A CHOIR NEAR YOU!
Grenville conducts the BATH, WELLS, DEVIZES and KEYNSHAM Good Afternoon Choirs.
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.
His other Choirs include THE Welcome Chorus Choir and The Last Choir Standing Bath Male Choir. 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 - Grenville still likes to dust off his clubs and occasionally enjoy a round with his 3 sons, Dan, Kieron and Laurie.
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.
Find out more about Grenville's choirs and concerts - www.grenvillejones.biz
The Good Afternoon Choir was started by Grenville in May 2009 with the very first Bath Good Afternoon Choir. Over the years that followed, more Good Afternoon Choirs were introduced and now there are over 20 across the West Country with more planned for later this year - click here to FIND A CHOIR NEAR YOU!
Grenville conducts the BATH, WELLS, DEVIZES and KEYNSHAM Good Afternoon Choirs.
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.
His other Choirs include THE Welcome Chorus Choir and The Last Choir Standing Bath Male Choir. 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 - Grenville still likes to dust off his clubs and occasionally enjoy a round with his 3 sons, Dan, Kieron and Laurie.
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.
Find out more about Grenville's choirs and concerts - www.grenvillejones.biz
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Laurie Jones - Conductor
CHURCHDOWN (N.Glos) Good Afternoon Choir Laurie is the youngest son of Founder and conductor Grenville Jones. Laurie has 20 years experience working as a professional musician and has gained degrees in both percussion and classical singing studies. He started his musical career as a freelance performer and teacher establishing himself in the South West. He has performed in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues and London’s West End. In 2008 Laurie decided to change his career and go into secondary education as a Music teacher. He was Head of Music at Abbeywood Community school for 6 years and is now Director of Music at Westonbirt Senior School. He has always had a passion for singing and he started to conduct choirs ten years ago working with Youth Choirs in schools and colleges and is the founder of award winning Malmesbury Choir and is Assistant Director for the City of Bath Male Choir. |
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Derek Stuart-Clark - Accompanist KEYNSHAM Good Afternoon Choir Derek trained at the Royal Academy of Music as a singer and pianist and has balanced his career between teaching and performing. He has accompanied countless singers in concerts, recitals etc., conducted many theatre productions, worked with local choirs, and for thirty years was the pianist in Bath's Pump Room Trio. |
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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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Tony James - Accompanist Devizes Good Afternoon Choir I have taught the piano now for 30 years. I accompany for various choirs including the Trowbridge Philharmonic, Bradford on Avon choir and Devizes White Horse Opera. I am delighted to be asked to be the rehearsal pianist for the GAC choir. I also accompany students for their instrumental exams and play background music at wedding receptions. My second instrument is the viola and play in my local orchestra. |
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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! |
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Sian Walters - Conductor
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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Carolyn Dutton - Accompanist
YATE & CHIPPING SODBURY Good Afternoon Choir Carolyn has been accompanying group and solo singing since her teens and has over 20 years experience teaching music in Primary Schools. She established two successful children’s choirs and since retiring, has continued to be involved musically in community events, including local pantomimes and playing at the Colston Hall for several South Gloucestershire Primary Schools Music Festivals. She has been teaching piano for 6 years, currently working with 9 students. She is also Musical Director for The Crossbow Singers, a 4-part community choir based in Frampton Cotterell. |
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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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Matthew Finch - Conductor and Accompanist FROME, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE and CHIPPENHAM & CALNE Good Afternoon Choirs Matt loves singing, rehearsing choirs and playing the piano. He has been Musical Director of Bath Light Operatic Group for over 20 years, so you may have seen the back of his head in the orchestra pit of the Theatre Royal Bath! Matt is looking forward to having fun, and singing some lovely music with the Frome Good Afternoon Choir. |
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John Sandford - Conductor & Accompanist
BRISTOL Good Afternoon Choir - CIRENCESTER 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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Chris Grabham - Conductor & Accompanist TAUNTON Good Afternoon Choir Chris Grabham is a composer and conductor from Ilminster, Somerset. Despite his young age, Chris has already conducted a number of choirs, orchestras and bands throughout the South West. He also holds regular positions in the Taunton area as Director of Music of the Wiveliscombe Town Band and Deputy Musical Director of the Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir. |
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Andy Farris – Conductor
FALMOUTH, NEWQUAY & TRURO Good Afternoon Choir Andy Farris (pictured) has been involved in choirs for over 40 years starting as a boy chorister at Sheffield Cathedral from the age of 7. Follow on, he was a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain (and still acts as head of their Alumni Committee). After taking a Degree in vocal performance at Trinity College of Music, London, Andy went on to do professional work as a member of the chorus at Scottish Opera as well as doing solo concerts in London and abroad. Following the birth of twins in 2010 he moved from London to Cornwall and has been working for the Cornwall Music Education Hub as a vocal mentor and assistant conductor of several of their choirs, as well as running other amateur groups around the county. |
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Nigel Baker and Philip Davey - Accompanists
TRURO Good Afternoon Choir Nigel's first experiences of accompanying were as a church organist from the age of 14 and as a pianist for his mother’s dancing school. Since then he has worked as a primary/middle school teacher with music as his main specialism, conducting and accompanying school choirs, productions and instrumentalists in concerts and for exams. Before retiring two years ago he worked for Cornwall Music Service Trust as an instrumental teacher (piano/violin), accompanist and leader of Cornwall Junior Choir. Philip Davey is an organist, teacher and accompanist and has been Director of Music at Truro Methodist for over 30 years. He has travelled widely playing concerts in this country and overseas. |
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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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Brendan Casey - Conductor & Accompanist THORNBURY Good Afternoon Choir Brendan hails from Christchurch, New Zealand and studied music at Victoria University majoring in Vocal Performance. He has been active in the Southwest as a singer, teacher and Musical Director with companies such as BLOC, BAOS and Bristol Opera. More recently he was Musical Director for Thornbury Musical Theatre Group’s ‘Barnum’ in 2019 and has also taken masterclasses with Northavon Youth Theatre Company. |
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Ruth Jenkins - Conductor NORTH SOMERSET Good Afternoon Choir and South Somerset Good Afternoon Choir Ruth Jenkins 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 clinics and hospital settings. Since training as a teacher at Warwick University, Ruth spent the last 12 years teaching music in schools and sings for her local church. |
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Nick Atkinson - Accompanist
NORTH SOMERSET Good Afternoon Choir |
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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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Thomas Sladden - Accompanist MALMESBURY Good Afternoon Choir Thomas is an award winning pianist (Two Moors Music Festival 2020) with a classical background, a member of the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra and has recently been invited to play in the West of England Youth Orchestra. Currently attending Malmesbury Secondary School studying Music, French and Spanish at A level, he plans to further his formal education with a degree in Jazz Performance. |
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Sarah Summers - Conductor
NORTH SWINDON Good Afternoon Choir Sarah Summers has been leading community choirs for 3 1/2 years and has taught Music in Primary School's previous to this, as well as working with piano students for all of her adult life. She loves singing and particularly likes the focus that Community Choirs have on having fun. Sarah has enjoyed playing keyboard and working with singers on three Chocolate Theatre Shows and is looking forward to being involved in this years Summer Youth Project at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre. |
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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. He is looking forward to leading the new Mid-Devon Good Afternoon Choir at his home Church, Holy Cross in Crediton, a community choir for everyone – no auditions – great music! |
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Tanya Davidson - Conductor WARMINSTER & WESTBURY 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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Jessie Thompson - Conductor
HIGHWORTH with SCHRIVENHAM Good Afternoon Choir Jessie is a passionate singing teacher, musical director and accompanist. She has been inspiring and educating singers since 2004, when she finished her bachelor’s degree in music at Royal Holloway, University of London. She currently works with many choirs, amateur dramatics groups and educational charities in Swindon and the surrounding area. Jessie is currently studying for an MA in Traditional and World Music |