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Our Key People

Nick Austin - Music Director

Nick Austin is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied under Carola Grindea and Harold Dexter.

Nick has been Musical Director of Aylesbury Festival Choir since January 2017. Works performed include Mendelssohn’s Lauda Sion, Mozart’s Sparrow Mass and Rutter’s The Sprig of Thyme.

Nick has conducted Thames Voyces since January 2013. Works performed include Bach’s Jesu meine freude, Bruckner’s Mass in E minor, Durufle’s Requiem, Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Rutter’s Gloria and...

Rowena Gibbons - Accompanist

Rowena Gibbons studied oboe (principally) and piano at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester and since the age of 16 has played for choirs, instrumentalists, singers, ballet schools and church services.

Currently she is also accompanist to Lord Williams' Festival Chorus, Thame Choral Society, Towcester Choral Society and job shares as organist at St Dunstan's, Monks Risborough.

Yearly she organises a choral concert as part of the Ulverston International Music Festival in Cumbria and on her home turf teaches and plays for the vast majority of Associated Board and Trinity exams for Milton Keynes Music Service.
Piers Maxim - President

Piers became President of Aylesbury Festival Choir in 2004.

Piers Maxim was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Having read Music at Clare College, Cambridge University, he continued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.

As conductor, assistant conductor and chorus master, Piers worked extensively in the opera houses and theatres of Europe, including Staatsoper Berlin, La Monnaie Brussels, Le Théâtre des Champs Elysées Paris, and the Netherlands Nationale Reisopera. Following two years as Chorus Master of Scottish Opera, he was invited to become Chef des Choeurs at La Monnaie, Brussels, the National Opera Company of Belgium. As Assistant Conductor to René Jacobs...
Read more about Piers...
The Committee

Chair (and webmaster):         Mike Elliott
Secretary:                           Lynda Phipps
Treasurer:                           Viv Bailleux
Membership Sec:                  Sheila Page
Music Librarian:                  Kate Atherton
Concert Manager:                Pat Aylett
Press & Publicity:                 Barbara Venables

...and read about some precious people who we have lost...