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 12across the West Country with a further 8 due to start this year (2021) - 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 12across the West Country with a further 8 due to start this year (2021) - 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
Sandie Middleton - Accompanist
KEYNSHAM and BATH Good Afternoon Choirs
Sandie Middleton is a pianist with experience in vocal, instrumental, choral accompaniment and repetiteurship. She holds an MA in Piano Accompaniment from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a BMUS from Cardiff University, where she won the Elizabeth Griffiths Prize. She has worked with Cardiff University Symphony Chorus, Winterbourne Opera and Luigi Cherubini Conservatorio di Musica, Florence, Italy.
KEYNSHAM and BATH Good Afternoon Choirs
Sandie Middleton is a pianist with experience in vocal, instrumental, choral accompaniment and repetiteurship. She holds an MA in Piano Accompaniment from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a BMUS from Cardiff University, where she won the Elizabeth Griffiths Prize. She has worked with Cardiff University Symphony Chorus, Winterbourne Opera and Luigi Cherubini Conservatorio di Musica, Florence, Italy.
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Tim Charity - Accompanist
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! |
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.
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 and SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE 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 & the NEW SWINDON Good Afternoon Choir - launching in 2021 John is a Choral Music Director with over 30 years experience running children's and adult choirs with a Certificate of Teaching from the Royal School of Music specialising in voice training. Since moving to Bath 4 years ago, I have sung with the Bath Chorus and now run two choirs of my own, one of which is an all female popular music community choir! "As well as my choir directing responsibilities, I am a collector of various musical instruments which I use in a variety of ways. I am really looking forward to working with the good folk of Swindon on this new and exciting venture and I know that we will have a rewarding FUN time together." |
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Chris Grabham - Conductor & Accompanist
YEOVIL Good Afternoon Choir and TAUNTON Good Afternoon Choir - launching in 2021 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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Kate Lynch - Conductor
CHEDDAR VALLEY Good Afternoon Choir - launching in 2021 Kate Lynch (pictured) has been leading singing across the Cheddar Valley for the past 14 years and has always been passionate about getting everyone to sing, be they old, young or inexperienced. She is very at home leading massed vocal workshops; singing in schools; and conducting community choirs. |
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Robert Anderson - Accompanist
CHEDDAR VALLEY Good Afternoon Choir Robert plays piano and organ and for over ten years was deputy organist at Bath Abbey. He has given many organ recitals but especially enjoys accompanying his wife Debra (soprano) on piano. They love performing classic songs of the 1920’s and 1930’s. |
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Sandra Burne – Conductor CHELTENHAM Good Afternoon Choir - launching 2021 Sandra Burne has an eclectic background including: choral leader; tutor of woodwind, Maths, and English for Academic Purposes; and IT management. She has performed in amateur and professional choirs, orchestras, and ensembles in Europe and the US. Of all Sandra’s musical experiences, it’s conducting that gives her the most satisfaction. Sandra also leads local chamber, church, and club choirs. |
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Mark Harmer - Accompanist CHELTENHAM Good Afternoon Choir Mark Harmer (BA Music, MSc Organisation Change) teaches piano and harp, and accompanies individual singers, school and community choirs. Mark is also an audio and video specialist with 23 years’ experience at the BBC as well as running commercial and public-sector music / media projects. |
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Andy Farris – Conductor
FALMOUTH and TRURO Good Afternoon Choir - launching 2021 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 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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Andy Brockway - Conductor & Accompanist
SALISBURY Good Afternoon Choir - launching 2021 Andy Brockway has been a Cathedral Chorister, Organ Scholar, Musical Director, Session Pianist etc. and has travelled as far as Hong Kong and the USA because of his music. He accompanies SAYM choirs and the Winterslow Singers. Regularly he is asked to conduct/accompany choirs at the last minute, but he really just enjoys fellowship through the gift of music, wherever that may be. |
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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 Ruth Jenkins graduated in Music atBirmingham 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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Celia Holland - Accompanist
NORTH SOMERSET Good Afternoon Choir Celia studied at RAM with Alan Richardson and is director of music and arts faculty at inner city Bristol school organising an annual Colston Hall concert. She is also an examiner for ABRSM, an Ofsted inspector for music and a consultant for music and the arts for specialist schools. Celia says that despite her career, accompanying fellow musicians is her very favourite occupation. |