Il Maestro
Andrew started learning the recorder at 8, piano at 9
and flute at 14. His grandmother was a good amateur
pianist and great grandmother was a concert pianist.
He still has and uses the piano his grandmother bought
him when she realised he could play a little,
sadly just after she sold the family piano.
He was lucky to find he could sight-read fairly easily
much to the dismay of his teachers since it meant
he was lazy in practising and found lessons boring
and repetitive. He probably learnt more since the
lessons stopped when he left school.
In the 70s he joined the Halton singers, a musical
drama group near Aylesbury, first as accompanist then
later as conductor. The choir produced a show each year,
usually Gilbert and Sullivan or Strauss etc as well as
a spring concert.
When work took him abroad, first to Egypt then to
Greece, music became, as in so many expatriate
communities, a wonderful relaxation and social event.
He joined the Athens Singers, a choral group, and the
Hellenic Amateur Music Society (HAMS) which put on the
usual round of G&S, Offenbach etc. Under the leadership
of a succession of musical Naval Attaches at the UK
embassy in Athens, they also formed a small a capella
choir, three to each part, which specialised in early
music. They called themselves The Early Byrds and had
a great time giving concerts all over the place.
Andrew returned to the UK in 1994 and joined the KS as
a sort of tenor. After Heather's untimely death the
choir asked him to become their conductor - so now he
can blame them for all his mistakes.
Looking back on some memorable musical highlights:
Singing the Byrd 4-part mass in monastical caves under
a monastery in Northern Greece.
Performing the Faure Requiem liturgically during High
Mass from the organ gallery of the French Cathedral in
Athens. After the Sanctus, the 'phone beside the organ
rang. It was the Altar - they wanted a repeat of the
Sanctus.
Joining the London Symphony Chorus in a performance of
Mahler's 8th at the opening of the fantastic new
concert hall in Athens.
The Early Byrds performing at a private dinner at the
Embassy, where the guest of honour, Yehudi Menuhin
failed to fully conceal his winces at some of our
duff notes.
A sell-out performance of Dvorak's Stabat Mater in the
German Church in Athens. So many people couldn't gain
entrance that they demanded and got a repeat
performance the following week.
To misquote from Twelfth Night, 'If music be the food
of life, play on'.
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