ANDREW MARPLES – Our Musical Director (Photo – Albert Thomas)
Andrew studied music at the University of Reading and won a post-graduate scholarship to study piano accompaniment at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is in great demand as a conductor locally – his current societies and groups include: Baslow Choir, Holymoorside Choral Society, MusicWork Vocal Ensemble and Cantiamo. He has been a guest conductor with Rotherham Choral Society, Present Company, Matlock Operatic Society, Sheffield City Opera and Peak Performance. He was accompanist and then conductor of Chesterfield Co-operative Choral Society for 20 years and MD for the Chesterfield Gilbert & Sullivan Society. He has led choir tours to Troyes (twice), Darmstadt (three times) and Prague.
Past theatre performances include all the Gilbert & Sullivan operas, Gigi, Oliver, The Merry Widow, West Side Story, Wizard of Oz, The Elixir of Love (at Sheffield Crucible for SCO and Buxton Opera House for Present Company) and Viva Mexico. He is Musical Director for the Chatsworth Players and led them for their debut musical Into the Woods (2022) and recently My Fair Lady (2024), both in the Chatsworth House Theatre. He has conducted many classical concert works, many with orchestra. Highlights have included Elijah (selections) and The Armed Man Choral Suite (Jenkins). Recently he conducted his combined choirs with full orchestra and professional soloists in a complete performance of Messiah at Sheffield’s Victoria Hall.
He co-founded the very successful Saturday lunchtime concerts at Chesterfield library (now in their 32nd year) and established a monthly series of concerts at Elder Yard Chapel. He teaches piano locally, plays the organ and supports Chesterfield FC the rest of the time.
CAROL BARNES – Our Accompanist (Photo – Albert Thomas)
After studying music at Manchester University, Carol spent many years working as an IT manager in the pharmaceutical industry, retaining music as a source of pleasure and relaxation. She particularly enjoys playing with and in support of other musicians and since taking early retirement, Carol has been enjoying the challenge of taking on more accompanying assignments, including the choirs of Baslow and Hathersage.
(Notes taken from the programme of the 2019 Summer Concert)