who's who ?

The Pye Hill and District Male Voice Choir with MD Christine Buxton (right), Accompanist Rosemary Jones (left) and President Edward Holmes - (front centre).

MUSICAL DIRECTOR - MR DAVID GIBBON 2023 = 

David has been a teacher of music in Comprehensive schools, in Kent, in Worcetershire and in Nottinghamshire. He has worked with groups of students in both choral and instrumental ensembles. His students would give 2 or 3 concerts a year and many would progress throught the A.B.R.S.M. Graded examinations. His sudents also travelled abroad to give concerts - Germany.
Since retirement, David has sung with 3 different choirs; and has also run his own community SATB Choir for 9 years.
He was happy to take over the reigns as MD of the Pye Hill and District Male Voice when the position was offered in February 2023.

ACCOMPANIST = TRACY TURNER 2024 - 

Tracy learned to play the piano from the age of 7 years and by her mid-teens passed her Grade 8 A.B.R.S.M. She took and passed A-levels and  went on to Universities at  Derby and at Nottingham Trent  and gained BA(Hons) in Social Work Studies. She has spent many years in the field of Social Care but always kept up with her piano and church organ playing. she has a number of pupils taking piano lessons with her She has accompanied choirs in schools and churches in the past; she has excellent sight-reading skills and has sensitivity over timing and ensemble, so we are immensely pleased that she has become our accompanist.

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Jason Darnell

At the beginning of 2019, the choir was delighted to welcome Jason Darnell as President and Assistant Musical Director of the choir. Jason is the son of the choir's Musical Director, Linda Darnell.
Jason is an internationally acclaimed tenor performing throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. He has recorded and broadcast for ITV, Channel 4, Radio 3, Radio 4, WDR, Polish Radio 2 and EBU. CD releases include Monteverdi ‘Vespers’, Bach ‘St. John Passion’ and Blow ‘Venus and Adonis’.
Notable productions include: Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at the Onassis Concert Hall, Athens; the title role in Monteverdi’s ‘Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria’ at the Temple of Octavia, Ancient Corinth; Vivaldi’s ‘Giustino’ and Handel’s ‘Theodora’ at the Megaron, Athens; Purcell’s ‘King Arthur’  in Die Glocke, Bremen; Blow’s ‘Venus and Adonis’ and Charpontie’s ‘Acteon’ at Wigmoor Hall, London, Monteverdi ‘Vespers’ in York Minster and Handels ‘Messiah’ with the Yorkshire Bach Choir.
Jason also conducts ‘Cantorum’ and is Musical Director of his chamber choir at Queen Ethelburga’s School, York.    

Mr Jason Darnell

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CHAIRMAN: DAVID BRAITHWAIT ..... 2020

Dave has been the Chairman for a number of years now and brings his 'youthful'  talents to keeping the choir in good order and good humour. The choir has  undergone a number of changes over his years and, under his positive and  friendly guidance, the choir is again strong and active giving many concerts  and performances each year.

Mr David Braithwait

CHAIRMAN: WYN JONES 2020 .-2022

Wyn had the unenviable task of holding the choir together and guiding us through those terrible months of lockdown with the Corona Virus affecting the country so badly. He managed his role with magnificently. He deserves a great deal of praise in the way he handled matters.

CHAIRMAN: JOHN PRITCHARD 2023 - 

John has  sung in male voice choirs since 1975, the first being Nottinghamshire Police Male Voice Choir until it disbanded in 2003, then Bestwood Male Voice Choir where he is  President, and now singing with Pye Hill and District MVC.