Angmering Chorale was formed in 1976 by the Head of Music at The Angmering School. Initially comprised of parents of the pupils, it has grown to around 100 singers from a wide area and with diverse backgrounds. With a wide range of ages, all are welcome. There is no audition, just a simple voice check to confirm your part. Singing is conducted by:
George Jones, Musical Director. George Jones was appointed Musical Director of the Angmering Chorale in January 2002. Previously he conducted choral societies in Wallington, Manchester, Macclesfield and Witham before forming Billingshurst Choral Society in 1986.
Alongside these posts he was Organist and Choirmaster at several churches around the country. A head teacher of five schools, George was always concerned with providing musical opportunities for young people and continues to believe that we need to fight to preserve the importance of the arts in all schools — especially in these difficult times in our society.
Regrettably the pandemic forced his retirement from the school music scene after around fifty years and George is now focussing on his work with the Angmering Chorale and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Rustington.
Helen Wharmby, Accompanist. Helen is excited to have been appointed Accompanist for Angmering Chorale from September 2023. Helen has worked with a number of choral societies across Surrey and Sussex, including Billingshurst Choral Society, Holmbury Choral Society (regular winners at the Leith Hill Music Festival) and Surrey Hills Chamber Choir (past winners of BBC Choir of the Year). As well as choral work, Helen works as an accompanist for students, coaching them in preparation for music auditions and graded music exams and diplomas.
Helen is an experienced piano teacher, and is a visiting music teacher at Christ's Hospital in Horsham, St Teresa's School in Effingham and Sutton High School in Sutton. Alongside teaching in schools, Helen also enjoys teaching children and adults privately. Her students achieve high success in music grades and diplomas, with some who she's taught and coached gaining entry to the prestigious Saturday junior music colleges in London.
Helen has volunteered for many years in the music department of her children's secondary school, The Ashcombe, in Dorking where she runs the school's Junior Orchestra, writing the music to suit the standard of the individual players and conducting rehearsals and performances. She also supported her children's primary school, St Paul's C of E Primary School in Dorking, by researching, writing and publishing a book about the history of the school to celebrate its 150-year anniversary in 2010. It was through this project that Helen first met George – George was Headmaster of St Paul's in the 1980s.
Helen studied music at the University of Birmingham, achieving a First Class Honours degree and winning the University of Birmingham Barber Scholarship award. She subsequently achieving a distinction in her Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music diploma. A Chartered Accountant for many years before returning fulltime to music, Helen is married with 4 children.
