About us
Andover Chamber Choir is a traditional mixed-voice adult group of experienced local singers, dedicated to performing a wide range of smaller-scale choral repertoire from across the centuries.
With a history dating back to 1971 as The Harmonium Singers, the group has performed in and around Andover for many years under the direction of Bruce Randall, often singing unaccompanied but occasionally with piano, organ or an instrumental ensemble. After a break in 2020 enforced by the pandemic, Bruce decided to step aside and initiate a fresh start for the choir with a new name from January 2022.
The choir remains committed to performing to a high standard and to raising money for local charities and good causes.
The choir specialises in smaller-scale choral repertoire from the 16th century to the present day, both sacred and secular. Thoughtful sequences of words and music with a particular theme or spiritual dimension have become a feature of programmes. Major concerts usually take place in St Mary's Andover, a magnificent neo-Gothic parish church with a fine organ and splendid acoustics for choral singing (photo left). We also perform at its more modern sister church of St Michael & All Angels, as well as the various ancient village churches in the local area.
The choir specialises in smaller-scale choral repertoire from the 16th century to the present day, both sacred and secular. Thoughtful sequences of words and music with a particular theme or spiritual dimension have become a feature of programmes. Major concerts usually take place in St Mary's Andover, a magnificent neo-Gothic parish church with a fine organ and splendid acoustics for choral singing (photo left). We also perform at its more modern sister church of St Michael & All Angels, as well as the various ancient village churches in the local area.
MICHAEL WHEELER
Chair
Michael sang treble solos in St Albans Cathedral, his school chapel, and has enjoyed singing in choirs ever since, in Lancaster, Winchester and now Andover. A retired academic, he is a Visiting Professor of English at the University of Southampton. He continues to write books on nineteenth-century cultural history, carries out research in London libraries and gives talks around the country. Michael is a former Lay Canon and member of Chapter at Winchester Cathedral, where he hangs out on a Sunday. He moved from Amport to Andover in 2017.
Committee
Chair -Michael WheelerMusical Director (Interim) - Amy WaltersSecretary - Tim JamesTreasurer - Penny RandallPublicity - Veronica BaconCatering/social - Eleanor Jakeman
SopranosSally Biles, Karyn French, Nicola Judd, Rachel Leslie, Penny Randall, Diana Robinson, Laura Sinclair, Tor Warburton, Sarah Watson, Henrietta Wentworth-Stanley
AltosMoira Addison, Veronica Bacon, Melanie Haydon, Jenny Harris, Eleanor Jakeman, Kathy Percival, Janet Tomlinson, Amy Walters
TenorsRay Barons, Joe Hughes, Johnny Riordan, Michael Wheeler
BassesPeter Hawkes, David Haydon, Tim James, David Klee, Ray Lucas, Bruce Randall, Lucas Rolt, Nigel Sacree
AltosMoira Addison, Veronica Bacon, Melanie Haydon, Jenny Harris, Eleanor Jakeman, Kathy Percival, Janet Tomlinson, Amy Walters
TenorsRay Barons, Joe Hughes, Johnny Riordan, Michael Wheeler
BassesPeter Hawkes, David Haydon, Tim James, David Klee, Ray Lucas, Bruce Randall, Lucas Rolt, Nigel Sacree