Conductor ~ Christine Gwynn
Christine read music at Southampton University and subsequently studied piano and conducting at the Guildhall with Norman Beedie, laying the foundations for a very varied freelance career involving many facets and styles of music.
Christine has been musical director of Valentine Singers since 1998 and together they have recorded two CDs, broadcast on national TV and toured in the UK and abroad. A focus on vocal technique is key to the choir’s work and gives a platform for exploring a rich and diverse array of music.
In addition to an extensive choral repertoire, Christine’s conducting experience embraces orchestral direction and also music theatre, from Dido & Aeneas to West Side Story and contemporary pieces – a wide variety of experience that she brings to bear on her work in the choral field.
Christine is co-founder of Arbutus Music which seeks to encourage and enhance participation in group singing within the community; she also leads workshops for pianists and is conductor of both Writtle Singers chamber choir and Jericho Ensemble.
Accompanist ~ Tim Smith
Tim trained professionally with Jan Adey; he has been accompanist for the Valentine Singers since 2002 and was previously accompanist for five years with The Ivor Evans Singers.
Tim has a wide-ranging musical career that spans choral music, opera, recital and musical theatre.
His work with opera companies include accompanying The Carl Rosa Opera Company, Cameo Opera, Hatstand Opera and The New Savoyards of London, and he has performed at venues throughout the UK including Goldsmiths Hall, The Barbican and St. Martin in the Fields in London.
He regularly appears on the concert platform in recitals with singers and instrumentalists, performing a wide variety of chamber music and Lieder.
He is an orchestral keyboard player taking part in performances of many large-scale choral works and musical theatre. He has also performed at the Players Theatre, London.
Tim is also a very successful solo pianist, performing recitals in his own right across the South East.
