Maldon Choral Society is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Musical Director,

Ashley Thompson, BA, Dip ABRSM, ALCM.  He has worked with Maldon Choral for many years, mainly as accompanist, and was chosen from several applicants to take over the rôle from

Dr Gillian Ward Russell, who has retired.

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Ashley is much in demand on the Essex choral scene and has accompanied and directed Stock, Maldon, Ingatestone, Eastwood and Billericay Choral Societies.  He has also worked with Anglia Singers (Chelmsford), Gale Singers (Dagenham), United Singers (Hornchurch) and The Triple H Community Choir in Hockley, Hawkwell and Hullbridge, which he founded in 2012 and continues to lead. Ashley has also worked professionally with OffSpringers, Billericay, Southend and Essex Police Operatic Societies, and maintains a successful, private-teaching portfolio.

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Other high-profile engagements have included accompanying services at Chelmsford Cathedral, and conducting services at Southwark and Wakefield Cathedrals.  With The Triple H Ashley also directed performances at The O2 and Her Majesty’s Theatre Haymarket.

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Works conducted have included Mozart Requiem and Missa Brevis in D, Faure Requiem, Maunder Olivet To Calvary, Elgar Spirit Of England, Jenkins The Armed Man and Stainer’s Crucifixion.

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Outside of music he is a Borough Councillor for the Liberal Democrats in his native Leigh-on-Sea, and a steady, rather than spectacular, opening batsman in the lower reaches of The Essex League.

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December 2021