Who’s Who
About us
Who’s Who
The success of the choir depends on the dedication of its musical leaders, committee and supporters
David Halls
David won an Organ Scholarship to Worcester College, Oxford, and later became Organ Scholar of Winchester Cathedral under the guidance of Martin Neary and James Lancelot. He became Conductor of Salisbury Musical Society in 1993 and was appointed Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral in September 2005.
In addition to his duties in the cathedral, David has toured Austria, Estonia, France, Holland, Italy, Latvia, Sweden and the USA with the cathedral choirs, and has appeared as conductor, accompanist and soloist in many concerts and recordings. In demand as a recitalist in cathedrals and churches throughout the UK, he has recorded four solo CDs on the Willis Organ in Salisbury Cathedral; and a recording of organ music from St Wilfrid’s Church, Harrogate, was released in 2015. His organ DVD and CD The Grand Organ of Salisbury Cathedral was released in 2012 to great acclaim. He is active as a composer with many choral and organ works published in the UK and USA.
David works regularly with ensembles and orchestras and has conducted the City of London Sinfonia, Florilegium, the Chelsea Opera Group, the Hanover Band and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
John Challenger
John Challenger was appointed our assistant conductor from January 2018.
He has been Assistant Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral since September 2012, where he accompanies the Cathedral’s liturgy on the great Father Willis Organ. He received his musical education as a chorister at Hereford Cathedral, and as an Organ Scholar at St George’s Chapel, Windsor and St John’s College, Cambridge.
Between January and March 2017, John acted as Director of Music at St John’s College, Cambridge, during the sabbatical of the College’s full-time Director of Music, Andrew Nethsingha. During this time, the world-famous choir undertook numerous high-profile engagements, including a BBC Radio 3 live broadcast of Choral Evensong on Ash Wednesday.
In addition to supporting David, John will conduct our summer concerts in the Cathedral.
Peter Grove
Peter Grove has been our accompanist since David Halls became our conductor in 1993. Peter has been a member of the choir since 1971, where he sang tenor.
Any choir that aspires to the highest standards needs an accompanist of the highest quality and Peter fits that bill for us. He is a concert pianist in his own right, having performed with Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and we are very fortunate to have him as our accompanist. Peter has the uncanny ability to anticipate what the conductor wants. His knowledge of classical music and the classical music scene leads to some enlightening repartee between him and the conductor.
Peter will often play continuo for us in concert, or occasionally be let loose in the percussion section. When not required for these duties he now joins the choir as a first bass.
Officers of SMS
The choir has three officers, who together with the committee, are responsible for the day-to-day running of the choir
Society Secretary — Clare Tawney
‘It is great to be part of an energetic, effective team supporting this wonderful creative work.’
Chairman — Luke March
‘I had no choice about music since my father was an organ scholar and my mother was a singer and painter’
President — Roy Bexon
‘Highlights of my time at SMS include singing Verdi’s Requiem with the Philharmonishche Chor Berlin’
Treasurer — Steve Beverley
‘I sang five National Anthems (including the Tongan and Western Samoan ones) at three Rugby World Cup matches’Some key committee members
These committee members are the people to go to for joining the choir, becoming a patron, borrowing musical scores, and helping with social events
Membership Secretary — Carole Bexon
Publicity Manager — Di Verdon-Smith
Social Secretary — Heather Bache
IT Manager — Les Rose
Librarian — Linda Nardone
