Director of Music
DR ANDREW STOREY enjoys a busy schedule as a choral conductor, repetiteur and organist in and around London. He has performed in major concert halls both in the UK and abroad including the Royal Festival Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Brussels Cathedral.
Andrew was born in the seaside town of Blackpool and as a youngster was inspired by the sounds of the Tower Ballroom, and the shows and cabaret acts in local pubs, clubs and hotels. These formative years inspired him to take up the organ and after winning various scholarships and acting as an organist and repetiteur in and around London, he was encouraged to take up the baton and guide others to sing and perform. Andrew firmly believes that every concert is a performance which should leave an audience tapping their feet, humming tunes and feeling they have connected with the emotion of the music. He often says, “There is nothing better for an individual’s well-being than being part of live music making”
Choirs and choral societies, Andrew maintains, belong at the heart of any community and in this day and age there are lots of reasons why members join. Some crave the challenge of performing the greatest choral works ever written, some enjoy a night out with friends, and some want to learn new skills and improve their vocal technique. Hopefully, he says, the majority attend for all three of these reasons.
Andrew has been the Musical Director of the Old Bailey Choir since the start and has seen it grow over the last 6 years. He says, "It has been a great journey, with some fantastic concerts along the way in really special surroundings such as the Royal Courts of Justice, Stationers' Hall, St. Sepulchre's Church and of course the Grand Hall of the Central Criminal Court where the Annual Carol Service is held."
As well as being the musical director of the Old Bailey Choir he is also the Musical Director of Ashtead Choral Society, the Ashtead Singers, one of the premier chamber choirs in Surrey, and has for the last 30 years been the repetiteur for the Hackney Singers. He is also orgnaist at St James' Church Garlickhythe in the City of London.
Andrew teaches at Dulwich College where he also sings in the Chapel Choir, and during his 25 years there has found time to return to his musical entertainment roots by conducting senior school musicals, such as Guys and Dolls, Kiss me Kate, Cabaret and Me and My Girl.