Music Director
Joe is an accomplished conductor, composer, singer and musical scholar based in central London, who has performed alongside ensembles such as I Fagiolini, the Royal Academy of Music Chamber Choir, and the Cambridge Fundraising Choir. He is currently the Musical Director of Penshurst Choral Society, Director of Music at St Thomas of Canterbury church, Brentwood, and Founder and Musical Director of the professional choir, the Lerion Consort. He started his position of NCS music director on the 9th January 2023.
For Joe's full biography and information, visit his website joetobin.co.uk
Assistant Chorus Master
Since graduating from London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Janet has worked professionally as a solo artist and consort singer. Whilst specialising in Early Music and performing with many of the UK’s leading ensembles, her musical versatility boasts many other genres and musical styles and she has worked closely with Norfolk-based composer, Patrick Hawes, on many of his original works. Their first album Blue In Bluedrew critical acclaim with Janet’s voice being described as ‘melting honey on freshly buttered toast’ (BBC Radio 3). Her ‘bell-like tones’ (Financial Times) are often heard on TV, film and radio as well as on numerous classical and pop CDs. Janet enjoyed 23 wonderful years with the Tallis Scholars and performed in more than 900 concerts world-wide with this world-renowned ensemble. She continues to perform and record but her love of teaching means she spends more time in the UK these days. Janet is Head of Choral Studies at Cheam School and enjoys working with her ever increasing ‘family’ of students and choristers.
Janet and David Woodcock (Head of Music at Harrow School) are both Directors of the newly formed 'Early Music Academy' which enjoyed a hugely successful inaugural summer season in 2015. Janet and David also ran their first US season of the EMA Summer School in Boston in 2017.
As well as a busy performing schedule, Janet enjoys adjudicating choral competitions, leading singing master classes and running choral workshops, she especially loves working with and training amateur singers. She lives in Highclere (Downton Abbey land) and has enjoyed a long and fruitful association with several Newbury based choirs including ‘Newbury Choral Society’, where she is Assistant Musical Director.
Accompanist
Steve studied organ and piano from an early age, playing the organ regularly at St Francis and St Andrew’s churches in Coulsdon. After gaining an engineering degree from Salford University he moved to Newbury to work for Vodafone. In 1991 Steve was appointed accompanist of the Cromwell Singers and later became their Musical Director. From 1992, he was Director of Music at St Mary's Church, Shaw-cum-Donnington and regularly worked with other local choirs, including the Douai Choral Society, the Downland Chorale, the RSCM Southern Cathedral Singers, Berkshire Maestros youth choirs and Worcester College Oxford.
In 2006 Steve joined the Royal College of Organists and in July the following year took the examination for Associate (ARCO) for which he was awarded the Limpus prize for performance, as well as the Sowerbutts and Samuel Baker prizes. After further study, he was awarded the Fellowship Diploma (FRCO) in January 2011. His current musical commitments include teaching organ, piano, and music theory. He is Director of Music at St Mary’s Shaw-cum-Donnington, organist at Cheam School and regularly gives solo organ recitals. Steve is currently the regular accompanist for Newbury Choral Society and The Cecilia Consort and also enjoys working with the other choirs in Newbury and the surrounding area.