dove R dove L Conchord Singers
affiliated to making music

 

.Craig Lawton took over as musical director of Conchord Singers in 2010. A lively and enthusiastic conductor, he also currently holds positions with Romsey Sinfonietta, Winchester Chamber Orchestra, Charity Symphony Orchestra and Andover Choral Society.

Craig initially studied with Dr John Traill and later at the University of Southampton where he studied conducting with Robert Browning and organ with Sarah Baldock. He has continued to develop his skills with Jason Lai in London, Prof. Colin Metters (RAM) and most recently with Neil Ferris.

2022 saw his Royal Albert Hall debut as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust series. In Europe he has enjoyed podium time in Norway, France, Berlin, Bulgaria and mosr recently in Milan with the Charity Symphony Orchestra.

In conjunction with a busy conducting schedule, Craig makes time for charitable music projects. In 2016 he spearheaded the “Oncology Choir”, formed of staff from Southampton’s University Hospital oncology department, to fundraise for the revolutionary new ‘Centre for Cancer immunology’. The choir made its debut at a black tie dinner in Novemebr 2016. In conjunction with a friend and colleague, Paul Ingram, he also organised four musical marathons at the Turner Sims in Southampton: Haydathon (2009), Beethovathon (2015), Orchestral Decathlon (2017) and Tchaikathon (2023).

Off the podium, Craig is a member of CAMRA, an avid film fan and enjoys walking. When not rehearsing or performing, you can often find Craig in a local watering hole enjoying a pint of real ale with friends. 

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Rosie Woods was appointed assistant director in 2017. She came to Southampton from a childhood in Devon when she gained a place at Southampton University. She gained a joint honours degree in English and Music, and also spent her undergraduate years singing and dancing where possible. Coming from a very musical family, Rosie felt the void left when she graduated and, although still singing with a Bournemouth-based big band, she started to look for a choir of which to be a part. Conchord offered just the right mixture of music styles, and immediately welcomed Rosie into the soprano section, and now after nearly 4 years, she is proud to have been asked to take up the baton as an assistant to Craig.




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Chris Bluemel studied piano with Martin Penrose, and then Joan Dixon at University of York, where he gained a degree and the DipARBSM in piano. He has since taught A-Level Music classes as well as one-to-one piano and violin lessons. Over the years, he has played violin, piano and guitar in orchestras, jazz groups and theatre pit bands. He is currently the rehearsal accompanist for the Conchord Singers, and bass player for the protest folk band Seize The Day, which whom he has played at the Glastonbury Festival four times.







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