Our Musical Director

The Society appointed Alistair Auld as Musical Director in December 2011

Biography

Alistair is a free-lance conductor and organist. A graduate of London University and post-graduate of Durham, he also holds associate-ship performance diplomas from both the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Organists.

Alistair has spent the past nine years living and working as a conductor and teacher in Bahrain, in the Arabian Gulf, having previously been Director of Music at the Duke of York’s School in Kent and prior to this was on the music staff at Strathallan School in Perth, Scotland.

In Kent, Alistair directed many large scale choral and orchestral performances, adjudicated at music festivals and organised European music tours. He made two C.D. recordings of choral, organ and swing band music. Alistair also directed the school chapel choir at London’s Royal Albert Hall, in front of the Royal Family, and also in some of England’s leading Cathedrals.

Whilst in Bahrain, Alistair was organist of St Christopher’s Anglican Cathedral in the capital, Manama, and conducted the Manama Singers, a large chorus, in numerous concerts, introducing some great choral repertoire and distinguished international soloists to Bahrain. Most notably, a highly-acclaimed Verdi Requiem, Orff Carmina Burana, Haydn Nelson Mass at the 14th Bahrain International Music Festival, an Opera Gala entitled Opera Viva! Brahms German Requiem, Puccini Messa Di Gloria, Handel Messiah and others.

Alistair was founder-conductor of the Bahrain Sinfonia who accompanied the choir and also performed large-scale orchestral works such as Sibelius Finlandia and Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. During his final year in Bahrain he conducted a well-received Mozart Requiem and a memorable performance of David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus, the latter with the composer present.

Our Accompanist

The Society appointed Michael Davey as accompanist in September 2011.

Biography

Michael Davey studied at the Royal College of Music in London where he was awarded the Sir Walford Davies First Prize for Organ. He read music at Cambridge as Organ Scholar of Corpus Christi College and his first appointment was Head of Music at Wyggeston Boys Grammar School, Leicester. Michael was Assistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral before moving to Shropshire in 1971 as Director of Music at Wrekin College. Now retired, Michael welcomes the opportunity to play the piano as an accompanist.