Meet The Team
Matthew Pandya
Musical Director
Matthew is our highly accomplished Musical Director for the Choir.
Matthew is a baritone and musical educator and in addition to a degree in French and music from the University of Birmingham, he has just completed a MMus in Vocal Performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He has a wide range of performance experience and has sung with some of the UK's top choirs, in addition to singing as a concert soloist. Matthew is a vocal tutor at multiple schools across Birmingham and has led and performed in numerous singing workshops. He has recently commenced as a vocal coach at Coventry Cathedral and is an international barbershop medallist with Ami Quartet. Outside of music, Matthew is an avid sports fan.
Gary Lewis
Accompanist
Gary is our superb accompanist with The Harmoneers Choir. Gary has spent most of his career as a Musical Director in a number of outstanding schools throughout the country. At an early age he played jazz trombone in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and then piano in a number of bands, leading the Harrogate Youth Jazz Orchestra. This was followed by his involvement in a number of youth ensembles, orchestras and choirs in national and international festivals. He has written several full length musicals including 'Dunstan': Light of Albion' which toured New York and Connecticut and he has many years experience as a musical theatre MD. Nowadays, Gary leads a 7-10 piece jazz band, 'SwingShift10' and spends much of his time writing and recording music with other colleagues.
Ann Jones
Choir Manager / Secretary
Ann is our joint Choir Manager who looks after the day to day running of the choir with Jules. She is also our choir Secretary and manages all matters relating to Committee meetings. Ann has been with the Choir since its start. Her love of music started as a child with a classical theme singing in the Royal Albert Hall, Coventry Cathedral and even with the BBC. She then turned to folk music and became one half of a group called 'Two's Company' singing on streets and stages around the country. She taught at the Leamington Music centre and ran choirs in all of the schools she taught in.
Jules Harper
Choir Manager / Vice Chair
Jules is our joint Choir Manager who looks after the day to day running of the choir in conjunction with Ann. In addition, Jules is responsible for managing our choir database, IT systems, the Website, including its design and updates, and designs our publicity and marketing materials. She also acts as Vice Chair in Geoff's absence. Jules started singing again 14 years ago. She was lead singer in a vocal & acoustic duo called 'Duality' and was involved in a recording of Songs of Praise in Northampton for the Princess Diana Memorial and as a child and a choral spectacular for school choirs of Joseph's Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Jules has been with the Harmoneers since 2019.
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Geoff Bayliss
Chairman
Geoff is our Chairman who oversees committee meetings and ensures that we keep on track with our agendas, together with his valuable contribution to new ideas for the choir. He came from a musical family and started learning to play the guitar at the age of 13. He played and sang in a folk/rock group and also sang in various male voice choirs. He enjoys listening, playing and singing music and in particular, Geoff enjoys the social aspect of the Harmoneers with the mixture of fun and structured rehearsals. Geoff joined the Harmoneers in 2021.
Ruth Bates
Treasurer
Ruth is the Choirs Treasurer and looks after all matters relating to finance within the choir, including managing our bank account, taking members 'subs' and keeping track of expenditure. Ruth has also been with the Harmoneers since 2017.
Tim Harper
Marketing, Audio & Photography
Tim manages all of our audio and video recordings for the purpose of marketing and publicity of the choir, together with updating photographic images on our website. He also supports any external activities for the choir in conjunction with other Committee members.
Tims background is in sales, marketing and publicity in a specialist field of construction and technical engineering management.
Tim has been with the Harmoneers since 2019.
Anne Holloway
Choir Member
Having been in choirs at school and college, Anne returned to singing twelve years ago when she retired. Anne contributes ideas to the Committee with regards The Harmoneers and stands in as Vice Chair when required.
She joined the Harmoneers in 2021.
Ann Ballinger
Publicity & Promotion
Ann is our Publicity and Events Manager and is responsible for raising the profile of the Choir through Social Media, together with attracting new members to the choir. She oversees events management for the choir performances and manages our Facebook pages. Ann also liaises with Charities for our Events and connects with local press for advertising purposes.
