About Us

The group was formed originally in 1971 with friends getting together to sing Christmas carols to the accompaniment of an antique portable harmonium. The instrument itself has long been left behind but the group has gone from strength to strength and established itself as a successful local chamber choir.

Often singing without accompaniment, the Harmonium Singers specialise in smaller-scale choral repertoire from the 16^th century to the present day, both sacred and secular. Thoughtful sequences of words and music with a particular theme, narrative or spiritual dimension have become a feature of programmes in recent years. The group often performs for local community or charity events.

Accompanied by orchestra, instrumental group or organ, the Singers have also given successful chamber performances of more substantial choral works. These have included the Handel Coronation Anthems, the Requiems of Fauré, Rutter and Walford Davies, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Credo, the Haydn ‘Little Organ Mass’, Schubert’s Mass in G and the Pergolesi/Durante Magnificat. The group has twice collaborated with the London period-orchestra Linden Baroque.

Committee

Chair - Bruce Randall

Musical Director - Andrew Wyndham

Secretary - Tim James

Treasurer - Penny Randall
Publicity - Veronica Bacon

Librarian - Rachel Leslie

Sopranos

Sally Biles, Liz Brown, Karyn French, Nicola Judd, Rachel Leslie, Penny Randall, Diana Robinson, Laura Sinclair-Smith, Tor Warburton, Henrietta Wentworth-Stanley

Altos

Veronica Bacon, Melanie Haydon, Eleanor Jakeman, Kathy Percival, Amanda Poulton

Tenors

Dave Morris, Chris Way

Basses

David Haydon, Tim James, David Klee, Ray Lucas, Bruce Randall, Nigel Sacree

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Bruce Randall

Chair

Bruce Randall directed the Harmonium Singers from the 1980s, covering a wide range of largely unaccompanied repertoire from the 16th to the 21st century in venues ranging from village halls to Winchester Cathedral. He has also directed larger scale choral performances with orchestral forces, including Andover’s millennium ‘Credo’ concert in 2000 and the Andover Choral Society. In September 2021 he handed over responsibility for the musical direction of the choir to Andrew Wyndham.

As an organist Bruce is often to be found playing for weddings and funerals in the local area, as well as regular services at St John the Baptist RC Church in Andover.

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Andrew Wyndham

Musical Director

Andrew Wyndham has been playing for church services since the age of eleven and accompanying musicians and singers since the age of fifteen. On completing a degree at Trinity College of Music he embarked on a twenty-five year teaching career during which he composed over a dozen musicals for children and arranged music for any number of ensembles.

Andrew is a regular organist at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Speen and became involved with the Harmonium Singers in 2017, becoming musical director in 2021. He has conducted orchestras and choirs and served as music director for amateur theatre groups. Andrew enjoys black and white films, history, walking, baking and chocolate.

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