Biography of Neil MacKay – Director of Music.

Neil became Director of Music in 1995, when there were only 18 members.  Since then, the Choir has developed in every way and Neil’s enthusiastic leadership has been the main factor in the Choir’s progression. The range of music we now perform is broader than that of many other choirs, from rock to classical including just about everything in between.  Besides English the choir sings pieces in Latin, French, Welsh and Xhosa, a South African native language.

As well as being guest conductor at three Croydon Festivals of Male Voice Choirs, Neil has appeared with the Central Band of the Russian Army and the Band of the United States Air Forces in Europe, and conducted the University of Illinois Symphonic Band and the Shonan Air String Ensemble of Japan on tours of the United Kingdom.  He was Director of Music for the SSAFA “Sixty Years On” concert at Fairfield Halls, conducting massed Male Voice Choirs and the combined bands of the Royal Artillery and the Parachute Regiment.

Neil is continually seeking new pieces for the Choir to perform and has developed arrangements of several popular ‘classics’ and up-beat numbers for male voices. Many of these are performed exclusively by EMVC.

Biography of Lynda Chang B.Mus (Hons) – Accompanist.

Lynda studied at the Royal College of Music for four years with Kendall Taylor.  She achieved a first class B.Mus. and was awarded the Tagore gold medal – RCM’s annual nomination for the most outstanding student of the year. 

Although her professional career was spent in the computer industry, Lynda has been able to return to music and is kept busy as an accompanist and a very popular recitalist.  Her debut with the Choir was at our Annual Concert in May 2010, and she became our regular Accompanist at the start of 2011, building a rapid rapport and popularity with the members, particulalrly in our 2011 trip to the Cornwall International Male Voice Choir Festival

Biography of Juliet Hornby - Deputy Director of Music

Juliet began her singing career in Puccini’s Turandot at the Orange Festival in the South of France and then went on to sing in Germany.  She has performed in opera, oratorio, recitals and musicals both at home and abroad appearing in venues as diverse as Roman amphitheatres, French chateaux, Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace, English cathedrals and Glyndebourne. 

Juliet lives with her husband – a local GP - and three daughters in Mickleham.  She is enjoying the challenge of being behind the baton rather than in front of it and has developed a strong rapport with the Choir since joining us in June 2009.

Biography of Helen King B.Mus (Hons) – Associate Accompanist.

Helen was the Choir's lead accompanist from 2005 to 2010.  She has been performing since the age of 9, winning the North Lincolnshire awards for Most Promising Musician in 1994 and Most Promising Pianist in 2000. She was awarded an entrance scholarship to The Birmingham Conservatoire where she subsequently attained a Batchelor of Music (Hons.) degree.  In 2005 Helen moved to London to further her piano studies on a Postgraduate Diploma course at Trinity College of Music.

Helen has been a finalist for the Beryl Chempin Beethoven Prize and in the David Brookes Competition and has played in masterclasses with such acclaimed piano virtuosi as Peter Donohoe and Martino Tirimo.  She has worked with Elmhurst School of Dance in Birmingham and The London Children’s Ballet. One highlight of her career thus far was a performance, with full orchestra, of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in the Adrian Boult Hall.

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