Our origins and previous conductors

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The choir was founded in 1969 and initially had a close association with Epsom College, as Neil Page its founder and first conductor was the Assistant Director of Music at the College.  At that time the choir consisted of around 16 singers gathered together from the College Common Room, their wives, their friends and a smattering of able senior boys. Founder members included, Neil recalls, a remarkable couple who had met during the war when they were both working with Alan Turing in Hut 6 at Bletchley Park on the Enigma project!  The inaugural concert in March 1969 was held in Epsom College Chapel with a performance including The Passion according to St John by Heinrich Schütz and Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Neil moved on to become Director of Music at Hurstpierpoint, then later to Malvern College and Uppingham School before becoming Director of Music at Nottingham Roman Catholic cathedral.

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Over subsequent years the choir has benefitted from the leadership of a number of conductors and a countless number of singers, each of whom has contributed in their own way to the choir attaining the high reputation it now enjoys. What started out over 50 years ago as a few enthusiastic singers getting together to have fun, has developed into one of Surrey’s leading chamber choirs. We work hard to achieve an exceptionally high level of performance across an adventurous range of music – but with no less enthusiasm or fun!

 

Conductors of Epsom Chamber Choir

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Neil Page                     1969 – 1971

Edward Kay                 1971 – 1975

David Lees-Jones       1975 – 1976

Richard Barnes           1976 – 1980

Peter Chase                 1980 – 1987

Richard James            1987 – 1990

Michael Stevenson      1990 – 2012

Piers Maxim                 2012 – 2017

Mark Biggins                2017 – 2023

Jack Apperley              2023 –

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