Our Conductor

Andrew Daldorph

A former pupil of Tiffin Boys’ School, Kingston, he graduated with a first class honours degree in Music from the University of Southampton in 1993. He then took up the post of Organ Scholar at Guildford Cathedral under Andrew Millington and subsequently gained Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists. Andrew frequently gives recitals and has played for services and concerts in cathedrals and concert halls throughout the country. He conducts both the East Devon Choral Society and Exeter Chamber Choir. Notable performances have included Mozart’s Mass in C minor and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in Exeter Cathedral, the latter with Devon Baroque Orchestra, Mozart’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, Brahms’ Requiem and Orff’s Carmina Burana. In May 2011, both Andrew’s Devon based choirs combined for a sell-out  performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius.

Andrew has arranged a great deal of music and is commissioned regularly to compose original pieces – mostly choral or jazz. Both his choirs regularly perform his arrangements and compositions, from Christmas songs and carols to jazz standards where the voices might be mistaken for a Big Band. His Songs of Hope and Creation is a modern oratorio which had its premiere in the spring of 2008, receiving a standing ovation and much critical acclaim, and in October 2009 it was performed in Exeter Cathedral by his two choirs to a near capacity audience, again receiving a standing ovation. His most recent composition, A Mass for Life, was premiered in July 2011. A mass setting in the jazz style, for choir and Jazz Quintet, the piece promises to become a favourite within the sacred choral repertoire.

Andrew teaches piano, organ and singing privately and at Exeter School. To relax, he enjoys playing jazz piano with his trio at functions across the UK and abroad.

Andrew was conferred an Honorary Fellowship from Southampton University. Having played at their degree ceremonies for over 25 years, it was in recognition of this as well as his broader contribution to the musical world.

Andrew’s website is – www.andrewdaldorph.co.uk