Lecturer and Director of Examinations. During this time he also taught at the Purcell School. He left the LCM in 1996 to pursue a freelance career. From 1989 to 2003 he conducted Maidstone’s Old Barn orchestra, which he took in new and exciting directions.
He now teaches at Cranbrook School, Benenden School and Marlborough House School. He devotes the rest of his time to orchestral work with the Beresford Sinfonia, choir training, accompanying, solo recital work, examining, adjudicating and composition. For sixteen years he was Organist of St Mary the Virgin, Rolvenden. Currently he is the Choir Director at St George’s Benenden.
THE BERESFORD SINFONIA
The orchestra gave its inaugural concert in 2002.
It is co-directed by Martyn Williams and Bryan Gipps.
It gives concerts on its own and with guest soloists.
It is the regular accompanying orchestra for SVCS.
It is dedicated to a professional standard of performance.
It is co-
It gives concerts on its own and with guest soloists.
It is the regular accompanying orchestra for SVCS.
It is dedicated to a professional standard of performance.
OUR CONDUCTOR
Bryan Gipps was appointed Musical Director at the beginning of 2003.
He is also conductor of the Old Barn Orchestra, the orchestra for Medway and Maidstone, and co-director of the Beresford Sinfonia.
He conducted the Maidstone youth orchestra for a number of years.
He was a boy chorister at New College Oxford and an Exhibitioner at King’s School Canterbury.
The Royal College of Organists awarded him the Sir John Goss Exhibition which enabled him to study at the Royal Academy of Music
for four years, during which time he studied choral conducting and the organ with Dr Douglas Hopkins and twice won a coveted place on the Orchestral Conductors’ Course studying under Maurice Miles.
Bryan has spent 26 years working in public schools, 18 as Director of Music. He has directed many regional opera companies and also pursued a career as a violinist giving recitals here and abroad. He sings with the Rochester Cathedral Choir and is artistic director of Egerton Festival.
OUR ACCOMPANIST
Martyn Williams trained at the Royal College of Music, under Herrick Bunney and Dr W S Lloyd Webber. After graduating with prizes in Theoretical Studies, he gained an Honours Degree in Music from Durham University. He pursued postgraduate studies in the techniques of musical analysis at Goldsmiths’ College, London. He holds Fellowships from the Royal College of Organists and the London College of Music.
In 1976 he was appointed to the Professorial staff of the LCM, holding various posts: Academic Administrator, Director of Studies, Principal