ACCOMPANISTS
ALAN HAYES
Alan Hayes studied piano privately with Frederick Skellern and gained Trinity College of Music’s Associate and Licentiate Diplomas in Piano Teaching. He worked as a Primary school teacher after completing a 3 year Certificate in Education Course at Madeley College of Education (Keele University) and also gained a B.A. with the Open University. For over 30 years he worked in Primary and Middle schools and was responsible for co-ordinating the music curriculum throughout until retiring.
Alan has always enjoyed accompanying and works at the moment with 2 Youth Choirs, one for Staffordshire Performing Arts (with whom he has toured) and the other with Stoke on Trent Music and Performing Arts Service. He is at present employed by the latter as a curriculum-teacher , working in several Primary schools and he also leads vocal workshops and conducts a training wind-band. Alan also works as a freelance accompanist for grade examinations and diplomas and has accompanied Nottingham Trent University Choir and Nigel Hopkins’s “Let’s Sing” Choir in Birmingham.
PHILIP ROBINSON
Philip Robinson was born into a family in which music was a part of everyday life. At the age of 9 he went to Durham Cathedral where he became Head Chorister. Later at the Royal College of Music he studied organ and piano and was awarded a First Class degree. Since 1980 he has been based in the East Midlands where he has retained the balance between teaching and performing.
Philip has been accompanist to the Nottingham Bach Society and the Nottingham Harmonic Society. He is the accompanist for an annual singers’ course in Northern France and plays regularly for instrumental and vocal recitals. He is an examiner for the Associated Board and for AQA.
Philip recently returned to the post of Musical Director of Grantham choral society and is part of a duo ‘The Parnell Phil.’ with the saxophonist Alistair Parnell, whose theme is the reinterpretation of classical music. In 2006 he was honoured to take up the post of accompanist to Cantamus which fulfilled for him a long standing dream. He has recently travelled with them to Belgium, Spain and China and in July 2009 will be touring Malaysia.
Philip has also recently taken up the post of accompanist at Nottingham Trent University, where he also teaches Piano.
JO CARTER
Jo Carter was born in Oxford and studied piano at Birmingham Conservatoire with John Humphries and Philip Martin, where she was much in demand as an accompanist, also working with the CBSO choirs, the Birmingham Bach Choir, Birmingham School of acting, Birmingham Royal Ballet and various local operatic companies.
Jo then gained a postgraduate degree (with distinction) in piano accompaniment from the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Malcolm Martineau and Julius Drake. She is now working in London as a freelance pianist and bass player, recording and performing with various artists, and playing in numerous West End and touring productions and London orchestras.