Angmering Chorale was formed in 1976 by the Head of Music at The Angmering School. Initially comprised of parents of the pupils, it has grown to around 100 singers from a wide area and with diverse backgrounds. With a wide range of ages, all are welcome. There is no audition, just a simple voice check to confirm your part. Singing is conducted by:
George Jones, Musical Director. George was appointed Musical Director of the Angmering Chorale in January 2002.
He also conducted the Billingshurst Choral Society until 2015, having been their Musical Director since its
foundation in 1986. A head teacher for many years, George specialised in music during his training and is
particularly concerned with creating musical opportunities for young people. He firmly believes that we need to
encourage children to take part in an assortment of musical activities and fight to preserve the importance of
the arts in all our schools. For several years he has been Musical Director of both Godalming and Guildford
Junior Schools' Music Festivals. Since his retirement from the teaching profession in 1997, he has been working
with Surrey Arts, establishing and directing additional festivals in many parts of Surrey. George is a member
of the London and South East area of the Association of British Choral Directors. He is a church organist and
choirmaster of great experience and currently plays at St George's in Worthing and St Peter and St Paul's in Rustington.
Alison Manton Accompanist and Assistant Musical Director. Alison has been Accompanist to the Angmering Chorale since 2005, and more recently also its Assistant Conductor. Alison studied music at Bretton Hall, Leeds University. She studied piano with the much acclaimed Christopher Wood, and later Jessie Jamieson. She studied composition with Patrick Standford, and is a past winner of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composer's Award.She has accompanied the Chorale's concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, London. She has also accompanied Jenkins' The Armed Man at the Cathedrale de St Pierre, Beauvais, and La Cathedrale de Notre-Dame, Amiens. In 2009 she travelled to New York to accompany the rehearsals leading up to the American Premiere of Karl Jenkins' Stabat Mater at the Lincoln Centre, Avery Fisher Hall.In September 2010, Alison played the piano in David Fanshawe's African Sanctus at Canterbury Cathedral. She transcribed and played the last improvisations of Fanshawe's last performance of the piano solo. This performance was dedicated to the Fanshawe family, as a celebration of Fanshawe's life.
