David Davies
Music Director
During the past ten years, David Davies has established a reputation in the South West as one of the region’s most exciting organists, and is in demand both as a soloist and accompanist.
Originally from Snowdonia, David trained as an organist, pianist, and conductor at Eton College, at Magdalen College, Oxford, and at the Institute of Sacred Music, Yale University, having won scholarships to each. David held church and cathedral appointments both in the USA and the UK, as Assistant Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral and Sub-Organist and Director of the Girls’ Choir at Guildford Cathedral.
David has given concerts across the USA, Japan, South Africa and in several European countries. He tutors on organ academy courses and his playing has featured on a number of radio and TV broadcasts and commercial recordings. He is also a commissioned composer across a number of musical genres. As a conductor David has worked with a wide array of orchestral and choral ensembles both in this country and in the USA.
As of September 2024, David takes up the role of Director of Music at Sidmouth Parish Church. The Church building and community play a significant part in the life of the Choral Society, and David is delighted to continue to affirm and celebrate the important connections between these two significant institutions of our town.
Andy is organist at St Francis, Woolbrook, and took up the role of accompanist for Sidmouth Choral Society in January 2018. His musical studies started in Bromley, continuing in Exeter under Lionel Dakers at the Cathedral, while gaining an honours degree in Physics at the University. As student at Exeter University he was Chapel Choirmaster.
Relocating to Watford, he was organist and choirmaster at Saint Michael’s church for 41 years, while following a career as a research scientist.
He was active with the Royal Society of Church Music in St Albans, holding positions of Area Secretary, Publicity Officer and ‘Voice for Life’ examiner.
Following early retirement, Andy worked as an organist at the West Herts Crematorium for ten years. He moved to Sidmouth in 2017 with his wife Pat.