Meet the Musical Director, accompanist and committee members who help Havering Singers make music and run the choir.
Musical Director
Chris Maxim
Chris Maxim has been involved with choirs since childhood. He was appointed to his first proper Organist and Choirmaster position at the age of 16 and went on to be Organ Scholar at the University of Bristol. A Research Studentship took him next to Cardiff, where he completed his PhD in music. He also holds the LMusTCL, FLCM, FTCL and FVCM diplomas, the latter being in choral conducting.
He lectured at Cardiff University and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama for several years, including teaching both choral and orchestral conducting at the university. He also directed the Cardiff University Chamber Choir, the Cardiff University Church Choir and the Cardiff Bay Singers. Chris moved to London in 2000 and was appointed conductor of the Elizabethan Singers of London. He founded the Giltspur Singers in 2003 and conducted them until the Covid pandemic caused the choir to disband. He continues to direct the St Teilo Singers, a choir that sings services in cathedrals.
Chris is a widely performed composer who specialises in choral and organ music. His UK publishers include Banks, Church Organ World, Fagus, the Royal School of Church Music, and Stainer & Bell. His principal publisher is USA-based Paraclete Press.
You can find out more about him and his music on his website.
Accompanist
Tim Smith
Tim has a wide-ranging musical career which spans choral music, opera, recital and musical theatre.
His work with opera companies includes accompanying The Carl Rosa Opera Company, Cameo Opera, Hatstand Opera and The New Savoyards of London. He has performed at venues throughout the UK, including Goldsmiths Hall, the Barbican and St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
He regularly appears on the concert platform in recitals with singers and instrumentalists, performing a wide variety of chamber music and Lieder.
Tim is an orchestral keyboard player, taking part in performances of many large choral works, and has worked with pit orchestras in musical theatre. He has also performed at the Players Theatre in London.
Tim is also a successful solo pianist, performing recitals in his own right across the South East of England.
Committee
Sarah Luheshi – Hon. Chairman and Charity Trustee
Voice: 1st Soprano
Joined: 2022
Singing experience: School choir, Marlow Choral Society and Ingatestone Choral Society. Proud member of the Havering Singers Orchestra!
Occupation: Retired, previously a senior executive in a small research charity.
Interests: Music, running, bee-keeping, gardening and looking after our ever-growing menagerie. My mother also sings 1st soprano, so Havering Singers is very family friendly!
Theresa Hughes – Hon. Secretary and Charity Trustee
Voice: 1st Alto
Joined: September 2012
Singing experience: Does karaoke count? I joined a small unauditioned choir in January 2010 and was introduced to Havering Singers by a fellow member. I joined in 2012 after a Come and Sing recruitment drive and have not looked back since! I cannot read music, which can be challenging at times, but that is next on my list. I am living testament to Havering Singers’ ethos of enabling anyone to become involved in music.
Occupation: Counsellor and psychotherapist in private practice.
Interests: History, particularly anything presented by Lucy Worsley; avid reader and member of a book club; the arts and theatre.
Trevor Marlow – Hon. Treasurer and Charity Trustee
Voice: 1st Tenor
Joined: 1996
Singing experience: At school and church and with St Edward’s Singers.
Occupation: Horticulturist, previously worked in banking in the City.
Interests: My garden, holidays, both skiing and walking, golf, and music. My brother David also sings 1st tenor.
Pam Ball – Librarian, concert organiser and liaison with other choirs
Voice: 2nd Soprano
Joined: 1985
Singing experience: School and university.
Occupation: Retired IT specialist and maths/music teacher.
Interests: Music, especially opera, gardening and gardens, travel and history.
Donna Coy
Voice: 1st Alto
Joined: 1986
Singing experience: School choir, Diminished 4th, Southampton Choral Society, Thurrock Choral Society and Super Montem. At present I am also a member of a local community choir called United Singers.
Occupation: Retired after a career in teaching.
Interests: Aqua aerobics, indoor bowling, photography, reading, theatre, travel and, of course, singing!
Steve Trump – Raffle and Quiz Night co-ordinator and choir publicity
Voice: 1st Bass
Joined: April 2011
Singing experience: Some participation in secondary school choir, followed by many years playing the violin, reaching Grade 8, and membership of Redbridge Youth Orchestra. In his last professional job he ran a workplace choir performing at company away-day events.
Occupation: Retired IT Service Manager.
Interests: Golf, music, family history research and collecting local history photographs.
David Newman – Webmaster and social media
Voice: 1st Bass
Joined: October 2013
Singing experience: Started in a church choir as a boy, followed by school choir and various ad hoc singing groups. He has also helped to run a number of community choirs.
Occupation: Project Manager currently working in the legal sector.
Interests: Music, playing and singing, technology and France.
Angela Warmsley – Fundraising events and various other things
Voice: 2nd Soprano
Joined: 1997
Singing experience: Hornchurch Grammar School Choir, Upminster Bach Choir and this lovely choir.
Occupation: Retired. Previously a secretary at a London fashion house, an advertising company and an import and export company, and a sales assistant at Austin Reed and Country Casuals.
Interests: Theatre, chairing the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch Club, music, singing, gardening, travel and cooking.