Here are a few details of our musical officers.

Nick Concannon Hodges - Musical Director

Following ten years as a professional violinist and conductor in London, Nick moved to Manchester in 2006. He currently conducts the Todmorden Orchestra, and teaches at Altringham Grammar School for Boys.

Between 2000 and 2006 Nick worked with I Maestri of London, the Croydon Symphony Orchestra, the Whitehall Orchestra, the Thames Concert Orchestra and Sinfonia da Capo. Abroad, he has conducted orchestras in Italy, Holland, Sweden, Eire, and the Czech Republic. Between 1999 and 2006 he worked with the Haselmere Music Society as assistant conductor and leader of the orchestra.

Nick studied violin at the Royal College of Music, where he was awarded the Royal Orchestral Society prize. His conducting studies began in 1998 and have taken him all over Europe where he studied privately with a variety of teachers including the internationally-renowned pedagogue Jorma Panula.

Keith Orrell - Choral Director

Keith, a Lancastrian, is the director of the William Byrd Singers of Manchester, and the Liverpool Welsh Choral. He was chorus master of the Hallé Choir in Manchester for seven years, and has acted as a guest Chorus Master for other symphony choruses in the UK, including the BBC Symphony Chorus. He directed the Beaumaris Singers until 2004, a chamber choir which he founded in the 1980's, and more recently he worked as Director of Music at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral. He has also led children's choirs, youth choirs, and larger mixed adult choirs including the Birmingham Singers, Stone Choral Society and the Staffordshire Youth Choir. He continues to lead choral workshops and courses, including conducting courses for the Association of British Choral Directors.

In January 2006 Keith was appointed Vocal Projects Leader for Wigan Borough, a post which involves the developement of singing in all schools in the region. In this capacity he also directs Wigan Youth Choir and Wigan Junior Youth Choir. He is also Director of Wigan Youth Orchestra, and the Director of Music at the Church of St. Agnes and St. Pancras in south Liverpool.

Elizabeth Taylor - Leader

Elizabeth Taylor came to prominence locally as the leader of the Calderdale Youth Symphony Orchestra. She joined the PSM orchestra at its inception and has led the orchestra with great accomplishment since 1988.

Halifax-born Liz is a graduate of Trinity College of Music, and winner of various music prizes. She lives and works in Lincolnshire, where she teaches and performs professionally.