Classical music in Cornwall
We are delighted to have an inspirational Director of Music, Nicholas Danks, who divides his time between Cornwall and Cambridge University where he is a Fellow and Director of Music at Corpus Christi College. Nick’s wealth of musical experience ensures our music is presented to an extremely high standard with the assistance of Stephen Tyrrell, our outstanding accompanist and performer in his own right.
Nicholas Danks was born in Harrow into a family of professional musicians. He studied the organ under Frederic Goodwin and David Sanger and in 1993 he was awarded an organ scholarship and a place to read music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. On graduating in 1996 he became Assistant Organist at the Royal Parish Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square. In 2001 Nicholas became Director of Music at St Martin’s, responsible for various high profile BBC Broadcasts.
In September 2008 Nicholas returned to Cambridge to take up the post of Director of Music at his old College, Corpus Christi, then switched his focus to academic teaching for the College and the University’s Music Faculty in 2012, specialising in Harmony and Counterpoint and Keyboard Skills. In recognition of his teaching and mentoring work, Nicholas was elected as a Fellow of the Corpus in December 2015 and also became the College’s Director of (academic) Studies in Music.
Despite the long-distance commute to Cambridge, Nicholas has lived in North Cornwall since October 2008 and became Musical Director of Wadebridge Choral Society in September 2010. He is also Musical Director of the St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir, based in the Kensington and Knightsbridge area of London.
Stephen Tyrrell, our accompanist, is in great demand locally as a pianist, accompanist and organist. As well as Wadebridge Choral Society, he works with Wadebridge Male Voice Choir and several other local community choirs. He is organist of St Merryn Church where he directs the choir and a prolific composer, particularly of choral music. The choir is fortunate to benefit from Steve’s musical skills as an accompanist and composer.
Our Patron
We were saddened by the death, in October 2023, of Iona Lady Molesworth- St.Aubyn of Pencarrow, who had been our Patron, and amazing supporter, for 20 years. However we were delighted to welcome Mrs Gillian Molesworth-St Aubyn as our new Patron and very grateful for the family’s continued support of the choir.
Patron Mrs Gillian Molesworth-St Aubyn
Vice Presidents David Briggs MA (Cantab) FRCO, ARCM, FRSA
Verna Jones LRAM, Maureen Wakeham
Director of Music Nicholas E Danks MA (Cantab)
Committee Members
President Peter Meanwell
Chairman Lindy Creighton-Clarke
Deputy Chair & Publicity Zoe Newland-Hodges
Hon Secretary Fiona May
Treasurer Jill McCombie
Librarian/Social Media Deborah Carter
Assistant Librarian Jill McCombie
Minute Secretary Robert Hood-Wright
Social Secretary Jane Parr
Orchestra & Soloists Annabell Woolcott
Concert Administrator Anne Wenger