Andy Poole BA MSc   Musical Director

Andy Poole joined the choir in 2007 and was appointed Musical Director in January 2012. He initially served as senior accompanist and Deputy Conductor.

Andy Poole BA MSc studied music at University of London Goldsmiths College from 1968 to 1973 and spent many years teaching music in Secondary Schools.

Later, he took up further study at the Open University and DeMontfort University Leicester, and taught adult students, whilst pursuing music as a hobby.

Stephen Bell   Associate Musical Director

Stephen Bell was appointed Associate Musical Director in January 2012.

Stephen's early musical training was as a chorister and subsequently a tenor in St Anne's Cathedral Choir, Belfast.

Stephen studied music at Southampton University and conducting at The University of Surrey.   His tenure as the Musical Director of the Southampton University Light Operatic Society began a passion for shows and his involvement in the production of many Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas.

In 2001 Stephen was appointed Musical Director of the Northampton Chamber Choir, culminating in a performance of Mozart Requiem in St. Giles Church with the Guildhall Orchestra which he formed and directed in 1997 for the Brahms centenary.

Stephen was appointed as the musical Director of the Northampton Concert Band in 2005 enjoying considerable success with the band in the NCBF festival finals, winning numerous awards.

Andrew Howes   Associate Conductor

Andrew Howes was appointed Associate Conductor in January 2012.

I have been singing for as long as I remember, first at school, where my first public solo role was as one of the 3 kings in the Nativity. I then joined the church choir before joining The Cantare Singers in about 1985, where apart from a few years off when the children were young, I have been ever since. I have great pleasure in now being their Musical Director, a post I inherited four years ago.

I have also sung with Opus One, a close harmony group formed by Alan Tinston, where I first met Andy Poole, who was our accompanist.

I now sing with A La Carte, a six piece singing group, who have regularly performed at the annual Gilbert and Sullivan International Festival in Buxton.

Accompanists

Ron Bentley Associate Accompanist

Ron started piano lessons aged 4. He studied Chemistry and taught it at Wellingborough Grammar School (later to be Wrenn) for 28 years. He retired early and has played piano professionally ever since - mostly in hotels and restaurants.

He did 8 years as the National Rhythmic gymnastics pianist travelling all over Europe and also played in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Musical tastes - an eclectic mix from Shearing, Peterson, Brubeck, through to Chopin and Debussy. "I've played for the NMVC for over a year as an emergency fill-in and really enjoyed the experience - a high quality and lively choir; great guys, I've learnt a lot!"

Sue Rayment Associate Accompanist

Sue grew up in a musical family and started piano lessons at the age of 5 and viola lessons at 11.  

After obtaining a grade 2 distinction on the viola her mother persuaded her to play one more year before changing to the oboe, which she wanted to play in the school wind band.

She achieved grade 8 distinctions in both piano and oboe, but when a career choice was needed Sue decided she would rather become a nurse and keep music as a hobby (she managed to combine both by playing oboe in the St Thomas' Hospital orchestra).

Sue has played the piano at Westminster Chapel, London and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Northampton where she has coordinated the music for several years.