Laurence Blyth: Musical Director

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Laurence Blyth joined Exmouth Choral Society as Musical Director in 2009. He is also musical director of Exeter Choral Society, Wellington Choral Society and the Somerset Community Foundation’s annual Sing for Somerset event in Wells Cathedral. He was previously Musical Director of Taunton chamber choir "In Ecclesia", a member of the cathedral choirs in Exeter and Truro and now sings countertenor in the Buckfast Abbey Choir and as an oratorio soloist and consort singer around the south west.

Laurence read music at the University of Exeter and subsequently graduated with a master’s degree in choral conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. At RWCMD his studies with Simon Halsey, Adrian Partington and Neil Ferris were supported by the Busenhart Morgan-Evans Foundation and the EMI Music Sound Foundation. He also conducted in masterclasses with Edward Caswell, Peter Broadbent, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, John Butt, Robert Dean and Eric Whitacre.

Highlights on the podium include performances of Bach Christmas Oratorio and St Matthew Passion, Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem, Bernstein Chichester Psalms and Howard Goodall's Eternal Light. 

As a countertenor, Laurence Blyth’s solo performances have included Bach Magnificat, St John Passion and various Cantatas (Exeter Cathedral), Orff Carmina Burana, Kodaly Missa Brevis, Handel Messiah (Exeter University, Powderham Castle and Teatro Leal, Tenerife), Mozart Requiem, Haydn Missa in tempore belli (Exeter Cathedral) and Harmoniemesse, Vivaldi Gloria and Stabat Mater and Pergolesi Stabat Mater (Powderham Castle).

Sandra Jepps: Accompanist


​Sandra has been our accompanist since 1995 when she answered our advertisement, in order to escape three toddlers.  She now accompanies two other choirs and is the organist at the Royal Marine Training Centre in Lympstone while teaching in a local primary school as her day job.  She obtained her music degree from the University of Huddersfield and her piano teaching diploma from Trinity College of Music. She studied piano with Peter Donohoe and composition with Richard Steinitz.

She is an invaluable member of the team, yet during our concerts she sits quietly in the audience. In our Anniversary Year we should like to give her enormous thanks for her many years helping us to learn our music. Long may it continue.

Andrew Millington: President

Andrew Millington’s career in Cathedral music has spanned some forty years, most recently as Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral (1999-2015).  He studied the organ at Worcester Cathedral before gaining an Organ Scholarship to Downing College, Cambridge. In 1975 he became Assistant Organist at Gloucester Cathedral where he was closely involved with The Three Choirs Festival. He held the conductorship of several notable choirs in the Midlands, two of which won major awards in the BBC competition “Let the Peoples Sing”.  

In 1983 he succeeded Philip Moore as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral. His work with the Guildford choir over a period of 16 years included tours throughout Europe and North America, numerous recordings and an appearance at the BBC Promenade Concerts. In addition to his Cathedral duties, he was closely involved with the Guildford International Music Festival, was conductor of Bracknell Choral Society, Diocesan Organs Advisor and Chairman of the RSCM Guildford Area.

Andrew has worked with several leading orchestras and he is well known as a recitalist. He has made several recordings as an organ soloist, including a highly-acclaimed DVD on the organ of Exeter Cathedral. He has played in most of the major venues in the UK, and in 1995 was organist for the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall. He is an examiner for The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and a past President of the Cathedral Organists’ Association.
 
Since his arrival at Exeter, Andrew's work with the Cathedral Choir has included several broadcasts and recordings and highly successful tours of Russia, France, Norway and USA. He has been awarded honorary diplomas by the Guild of Church Musicians and the Royal School of Church Music. In 2003, he was appointed Director of Music of Exeter Philharmonic Choir and has conducted them in many of the major choral/orchestral works. His final performance with the choir was Elgar`s The Dream of Gerontius in 2017. He is the Honorary President of the St Cecilia Singers of Gloucester, Exmouth Choral Society and Axminster and District Choral Society. He is an active composer of church music and has had many works published.
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In 2015 he stepped down from his post at Exeter Cathedral  in order to pursue freelance musical activities and much neglected hobbies. 
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Officers and Committee Members
Committee and support team  
Chair: Liz Chowienczyk                 
Treasurer: Sarah Kellagher
Secretary: Nick Ricketts
Publicity co-ordinators: Eileen Beach, Jenny Coats
Webmaster: Ian McLauchlin
Membership registrar: Anna Turner
Social activities organisers: Sue Jones, Heather Stratford