Francis Faux

Musical Director

Francis started his musical career when, at the age of 7, he was awarded a scholarship to Westminster Cathedral Choir School. Coached by James O'Donnell, he recorded several albums as a chorister, often as a soloist, and made regular appearances on Songs of Praise and Radio 4's Midweek Choice. As a top music scholar at Eton College, he learned to conduct under the guidance of Ralph Allwood, which culminated in his co-direction of Christmas Music from Eton College. He has also recorded with the King's Consort and worked alongside Susan Digby, a judge on BBC1's Last Choir Standing, for Yehudi Menuhin's 80th birthday celebration at the Royal Albert Hall.

Since moving to Bath, Francis has founded his own semi-professional chamber choir, Noctis, and directs Corsham Choral Society and The Good Afternoon Choir as well as acting as deputy conductor for the Bath Chorus. In addition to his choral engagements, he has also worked as repetiteur for the International Guitar Festival, Bath Opera, and the Devizes, Chippenham and Bath Light Operatic Groups in productions of Sweeney Todd, The Jewels of the Madonna, Puccini's Messa di Gloria and Massenet's Cendrillon. He currently teaches piano at Downside School in Somerset, as well as being a lecturer in musical theatre at Bath Spa University.

Will Ashworth

Accompanist

Will has been playing the piano since the age of 4 and has been accompanying various ensembles since he was 12, starting with 'Swing Bin and the Liners' big band. He graduated with a degree in music at Bath Spa (where he met Francis), studying both classical and jazz piano. During his time there he performed in Sondheim's musicals 'Into the Woods' and 'Company', played in both university big bands and in his own jazz quintet IKB5, who have played at the Iford jazz festival, Taste of Bath festival, the Bath Spa hotel and at a semi-regular gig at Gascoyne Place in Bath.

Recently, Will has worked as a copyist on behalf of Michael Nyman, editing a suite that was performed at the BBC Proms. He has also worked as an accompanist for Bristol Opera, has played for the CLOGS production of Carousel and has been in the pit for a Full Tilt production of West Side Story at the Minack Theatre. He also works as a piano teacher and accompanist in the local area.

Bob Smith

Chairman

Bob only started choral singing in 2000. Following several years with another Bath choir he joined Organum in 2006.
"With Organum I've enjoyed the challenge of singing works from the classical choral repertoire and of learning new pieces for each of our concerts. I've also enjoyed the good fellowship that is so characteristic of the choir. I also have a long-standing interest in small group jazz, particularly of the 50s and 60s. Through jazz I was gradually introduced to the delights of Bach, Handel and Haydn, and to more composers like Barber and Finzi."

Kate Scott

Secretary

Kate joined Organum in 2006 and has loved every minute of singing with the choir. She has also sung with the South West Festival Chorus when she performed Elgar's Dream of Gerontius in Wells Cathedral, then on tour in China, putting on concerts in Beijing and Shanghai.
She is delighted to be joined by other "testosterone challenged tenors" and hopes that this trend catches on.

Stella Morris

Publicity

Stella started singing twenty or so years ago when she joined the Otley Choral Society as a soprano. Harrogate and Highgate choirs followed, both of them large in size.
"It’s good to be a member of a smaller choir where every voice counts, as there’s no room for ‘coasting’ through the difficult parts we are singing—we all need to know every note."

Hazel Giles

Publicity

Hazel has been a member of Organum for about eight years.
"I can't imagine life without music, most of all singing and feel I've been doing it for ever. It all started with school choirs followed by a madrigal group, a large choral society and finally Organum. For me choral singing is a truly uplifting experience."

Brian Green

Treasurer

Brian joined Organum in 1998 by invitation from a church friend who was the choir's Musical Director at the time. He soon discovered that several members of the choir included residents of Bathampton village where he has lived since 1991 and so very soon felt at home in Organum.
"When the Treasurer's position fell vacant three years later, my name was put forward (the fact that I was a retired bank official no doubt had a bearing on this) and I was elected to the Committee."
Brian has sung in mixed and male voice choirs since his teens in Bournemouth and Southampton and now continues to enjoy making music in Bath.

Helen Barton

Librarian

Helen has enjoyed music from an early age and has always loved the camaraderie involved in practising for a concert, followed by the thrill of getting it right on the night. Her earliest memories are of her school choir followed by that of St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society where she did her nursing training. Later on she joined the Colerne Singers and then Organum.

Mike Anderson

Committee member

Mike has sung choral music from Taverner to Tavener, has a soft spot for the Renaissance and the late Romantics, but considers Bach to be the centre of his musical universe. Most of the past 60 years have been devoted to a capella work in chamber choirs, which has not only done his sight-reading a power of good, but taught him to appreciate a wide range of styles, from plain-chant to jazz arrangements.
"I came to Organum at Ros Hodson's invitation, having done workshops with her, and sung in her Keynsham choir.
For me, the thrill of choral singing is being part of a well-drilled team. The end product is magical and unique."