OFFICERS/COMMITTEE

Simon Dunbavand graduated in music from Cambridge University, where he was Organ Scholar of Peterhouse, and recently at The University of Sheffield, where he held the Charles Bryers Scholarship. He is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and the Royal College of Music. Simon has performed throughout the UK and across Europe.

As a choral director and animateur, Simon has presented workshops devoted to Hispanic renaissance masterpieces in places such as Buckfast Abbey, and directs performances of Russian Orthodox music. His other interest lies in the early Baroque music of Latin America. Simon is also a frequent lecturer on cruises, as well as inspiring singers in the Choirs-at-Sea programme.

Exploration is his greatest pleasure, and he has played the ceremonial gong at a Hindu watermelon ritual in Bangladesh, among other musical experiences across the globe.

Simon joined South Devon Choir in September 2016 as our accompanist where he has inspired us with wonderful warm up sessions and his masterful performance at both piano in rehearsal and organ at his first concert, ‘Hallelujah! It’s Christmas!’ in December 2016.

In January 2020 Simon became our Director of Music following the retirement from the position of John Hobbs.

Shortly after we started on the ever popular Carmina Burana Simon was faced with the challenge of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown.  We were all at home so what next?  Simon rose to the challenge and took South Devon Choir Online, creating three new books of music for use at the online rehearsals and encouraging us along to the challenge of creating videos of our performances.

President

John Hobbs is the conductor of the North Devon and Bude Choral Societies and former Music Director of South Devon Choir; and is organist at Holy Trinity Church, Weare Giffard.

His singing career began as a choral scholar at Cambridge University.

He has sung an extensive repertoire of oratorio, lieder and songs with many choral and music societies and performs many principal baritone operatic roles for the Duchy Opera Company and New Cornwall Opera.

John’s enthusiasm for music and zest for life are reflected in the way he directs the  Choir, both in rehearsal and performance.  Everything he does is with good humour, great patience and enormous professionalism and his contribution to music across the Counties of Devon and Cornwall is appreciated and applauded by us all.

Assistant Directors of Music

Harriet Oakley is a professional singer, conductor and singing teacher. She is the musical director of The Alvington Singers and teaches the Choristers of Buckfast Abbey as well as teaching at a number of other schools across Devon. She sings as a soloist for ensembles such as The Bach Choir (Bodmin) and  The Dartington Community Choir. Prior to moving to Devon in 2020, Harriet was a guest conductor for the award winning Epiphoni Consort as well as conducting a number of amateur and professional ensembles.

Matt Davies studied music at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University where he served as an organ scholar and performed with a variety of ensembles from symphony orchestras to chamber ensembles. Matt teaches music at Exeter School where he directs the senior choirs and choral ensembles. Matt is organist, choir master and Director of Music at Stoke Gabriel Parish Church. He is an accomplished choral accompanist and has been accompanist to a number of choirs including  the Bristol Phoenix Choir, Portishead Choral Society and now South Devon Choir and Torbay Singers.