Concert on 9 April 2011

Stephen Davies Conductor

Stephen Davies, a former chorister of St Paul’s Cathedral, London, and Music Scholar of Queen’s College, Oxford, was awarded a scholarship by the Austrian Institute to study with the great organist and composer Anton Heiller at the Academy of Music in Vienna. He has since been active both in the field of music education – particularly at St Olave’s School, Orpington, where he was Director of Music for seventeen years – and as an organ recitalist. In this capacity he has given concerts in major venues throughout Europe, in New York and in New Zealand. In 2017 he gave concerts in Estonia, Germany, and Norway, and last year he performed in King’s College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He founded the Sine Nomine Singers in 1994 and conducted this chamber choir for almost 20 years, giving concerts in local venues as well as in Estonia, France and Germany. He was Director of Music here at St George’s from 2002 to 2016.

From the programme of 15 October 2022.

Jonny Davies Baritone

After being Queen’s Chorister and then Head Chorister at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, Jonny Davies won a music scholarship to Trinity School, Croydon. During his teenage years he studied violin with John Francis, piano with Nigel Clayton at Croydon Schools piano centre and organ with Simon Williams. He also acted as assistant organist at St Mary’s church, Addington. He then went to Brasenose College, Oxford where he received an Organ Exhibition, sang with Schola Cantorum and the Oxford Chamber Choir. Since leaving Oxford, Jonny has sung as a lay clerk in Guildford Cathedral, with the Holst Singers conducted by Stephen Layton, and sings with professional church choirs all over London. He is now Director of Music at St Olave’s Church, Hart Street and St Katharine Cree in the City of London where he leads two choirs. He has studied singing with Sarah Dunstan and Ashley Stafford and now studies with Robert Rice.

Harriet Webb Mezzo-soprano

Harriet Webb was educated at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Girls and went to Manchester University to read music. She studied violin with Ronald Birks of the Lindsay Quartet and singing with Diane Matthews at the Royal Northern College of Music. She now has lessons with Sarah Dunstan. She taught music for 16 years and was until recently Director of Music at Newstead Wood School for Girls in Orpington. Harriet has sung with Polyphony, the BBC Singers and The King’s Consort, as well as her own 5-voice group Amici. She has made numerous recordings, mainly with the Hyperion label, including appearances as a soloist on several discs. She has sung at all the major London concert halls including several appearances as soloist at venues such as St John’s, Smith Square. Her repertoire ranges from Baroque to the present day and recent solo engagements have included performances of Karl Jenkins’s Stabat Mater, Antonín Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, G F Handel’s Messiah, J S Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Edward Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius and Guiseppe Verdi’s Requiem. She lives in Kent with her husband, two children and their Border Collie. In her spare time she enjoys cycling in the Kent countryside with a local cycling club.

Mark Jones Organ

Mark Jones started his organ studies with David Sanger and continued under the tuition of Nicholas Danby at the Royal College of Music. He attended St Olave’s Grammar School where he was taught by Stephen Davies, tonight’s conductor, before taking a place at Trinity College, Cambridge to read music in 1994. Mark performs regularly with the Sine Nomine Singers as an accompanist and continuo player. He is also in demand by other local choirs and has played the organ for them at such venues as St Paul’s, Westminster, Winchester and Durham Cathedrals.

From the programme of 9 April 2011.

Tim Wells ’Cello

Tim Wells started learning the ’cello with William Bruce while a chorister at Westminster Cathedral and continued at the RCM, Junior Department. He went on to read Music with both Choral and Instrumental Awards at Christ Church, Oxford, and later studied with Mats Lidström at the Royal Academy of Music where he won most of the ’cello prizes. He plays in the Agon Piano Trio and engagements have taken him to numerous societies and festivals in this country and abroad. He has taught at the RAM, Junior Department and is currently Head of Strings at Eltham College. He also teaches at Dulwich College Preparatory School. An avid arranger and composer, Tim has composed music for television and his works have been published in several volumes. He is regularly asked to adjudicate at festivals and, in addition to examining for the ABRSM on both the graded and diploma panels, he is involved in other aspects of the Board’s work including syllabus selection, composition commissions and recording projects.

Laura Smith Leader