Our Conductor

Anthony Rose graduated with a BA (Hons) from Durham University, where he was Organ Scholar at Hatfield College. With the choir of Hatfield College he has directed services in Durham Cathedral, York Minster, Gloucester Cathedral and St Albans.

Still as an undergraduate he founded Durham Baroque  Ensemble and Players and  performed concerts throughout the North East.  Specialising in Early Music, Anthony is deeply involved in early music revival and Baroque aesthetics. His performances, whilst at Durham, of Bach’s Motetten and Purcell’s ‘Birthday Odes for Queen Mary’ were received with high acclaim.

Anthony is Musical Director of Uttoxeter Choral Society and Sandbach Voices and has worked with a number of orchestras and musicians including Manchester Baroque Soloists, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra and The Northern Sinfonia.  Very much in demand as a vocal coach and conductor, Anthony has conducted Master Classes and Choral workshops in the UK and USA.

Anthony was asked to assist Mike Lloyd, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, during their performances of Mahler Symphony No. 2 at Birmingham Town Hall and Tewkesbury Abbey.  He has studied conducting with Peter Stark, Christopher Hogwood and was successfully selected as an active participant in the Admont Summer Academy Conducting Masterclass in Austria with Achim Holub.

Anthony’s choral work has included Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle (Sandbach Voices), Dido & Aeneas, Rutter ‘Feel the Spirit’ (UCS), Mozart Requiem, Mozart Exsultate jubilate (Charlotte Carter), Poulenc Gloria and Cherubini : Coronation Mass for Louis XVIII.  Future engagements include Walton Belshazzar’s Feast, Haydn Stabat Mater (UCS), Dvorak Stabat Mater and ongoing choral workshops both in UK and USA.

Anthony is a keen composer and has been involved with Conductors and Composers workshops with the Northern  Sinfonia, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Brian Ferneyhough and Martyn Harry. His ‘Expediency saves the Day’ was performed by the Northern Sinfonia at a concert at The Sage Gateshead.

Our Accompanist

Kelvin Leslie was educated at Grove Park Boy's Grammar School, Wrexham and University College, Cardiff. At University, he studied for a B.Mus., specialising in composition and an M.A. in the analysis of 20th century music. He studied piano with Martin Jones. On the completion of his M.A. he spent a period as pianist with the New Arts Consort for which he composed a degree score entitled "Spot the Ball". A year's study for a PGCE led to several years teaching music in Cheshire schools, including a period as Head of Music at Henbury High School, Macclesfield. In addition, he has worked as a part time lecturer for Liverpool University, including two day schools with Michael Kennedy on the music of Mahler and Richard Strauss. He has a strong interest in academic music and analysis.

Kelvin has a particular interest in musical theatre. In collaboration with Chris Spence, he has composed a two-act musical, "Humbug", based on Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" and has worked as musical director on a number of shows. Since 1995 he has worked as a freelance piano teacher and lecturer. In addition he examines for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, undertaking tours in the UK, Ireland, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Uganda.

Recent compositions have included piano works and choral pieces. He is currently working on a string orchestral piece for the Opus One Chamber Orchestra. Kelvin has performed recitals with Richard Turner (Clarinet) at Chester Town Hall and the Royal Northern College of Music and with Alison Balsom (Trumpet) at Salford University. He writes superb programme-notes for concert goers! He has adjudicated at the Chester Music Festival on two occasions.