Sidmouth Choral Society has appointed a new Musical Director, David Davies, who took up the role on New Year's Day.

During the past 10 years, David has established a reputation in the South West as one of the region’s most exciting organists, both soloist and accompanist. Originally from Snowdonia, David trained as an organist, pianist, and conductor at Eton College, at Magdalen College, Oxford, and at the Institute of Sacred Music, Yale University, having won scholarships to each.

David has given concerts across the USA, Japan, South Africa and in several European countries. He has also featured on a number of radio and TV broadcasts.

As a conductor David has worked with a wide array of orchestral and choral ensembles both in this country and in the USA.

Sidmouth Herald: Andy Benoy, accompanist and organist with Sidmouth Choral SocietyDavid joins the Society’s resident accompanist, Andy Benoy, to form a formidable Music Team, and the Christmas Concert in December showed just what a brilliant accompanist and organist Andy is. Andy is organist at St Francis, Woolbrook, and took up the role of accompanist in January 2018. His musical studies started in Bromley, continuing in Exeter under Lionel Dakers at the Cathedral, while gaining an honours degree in Physics at the University, where he was also Chapel Choirmaster. Relocating to Watford, he was organist and choirmaster at St Michael's church for 41 years, simultaneously following a career as a research scientist.

Sidmouth Herald: Sidmouth Parish ChurchSidmouth Choral Society can date its origins to the golden age of massed choral singing in this country during the mid nineteenth century, when Handel’s Messiah was the bedrock of the repertoire. The 2024 spring concert in Sidmouth Parish Church on Saturday 27th April will be none other than this wonderful oratorio, complete with the glorious Hallelujah Chorus, to get those rafters ringing yet again!

The Society want to welcome anyone who fancies coming along to join them on any Wednesday evening at 7:15 (for 7:30 start) at St Francis Church Hall, Woolbrook Road, from 10th January. Sheet music is supplied, and there are many and varied rehearsal aids on the Members’ section of the Society’s website - even recordings of each rehearsal! More details about all that are at www.sidmouthchoral.co.uk