Music Director
 Simon Earl was appointed Music Director of Grange Choral Society with effect from 6th June 2022. We are very much looking forward to working with him.
Simon is the Director of Music, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Christchurch Priory, a position he has held since February
2015. His principal responsibility at the Priory is the training,
recruiting and developing the choirs of Boys, Girls and Adults.
Brought up and educated in Surrey, he received his formative musical training as a chorister and later Assistant Organist at his local parish
church, whilst receiving organ lessons from John Belcher. He held Organ Scholarships at Southwell Minster, Newcastle Cathedral, Guildford
Cathedral and St John’s College, Durham, and read for a degree in Music at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, continuing organ studies with David Sanger. Between 2011 and 2015 he was Assistant Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral, where he accompanied the weekly cycle of services, and toured, broadcast and recorded regularly with the Cathedral Choirs.
Simon is also Musical Director to the Broadstone Choir and Cadenza Choir, maintains a busy recital schedule, is an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and is regularly invited to lead and accompany choral events in the UK and abroad.
CHRISTOPHER DOWIE - ACCOMPANIST
Grange Choral Society appointed Christopher Dowie as accompanist in April 2013
Christopher Dowie is well known in Dorset and further afield as an accompanist, conductor, organist and composer.
He was Organ Scholar at Hertford College, Oxford and then, after a period as Director of Music at two Surrey schools, he was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Wimborne Minster in 1977.
He continued to hold this post until October 2005, since when he has continued his work as a freelance musician. He has been the Accompanist and Assistant Chorus Master of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus since 1992 and plays organ, piano and harpsichord with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Christopher is Founder-Conductor of Wimborne Choral Society and of the Wessex Singers and has been a Guest Conductor of the Dorset Guild of Singers on several occasions.
His other musical activities cover a very broad spectrum, from "light" music to chamber music, performing "One-Man" evenings of songs, stories and piano music and organising and promoting concerts and recitals for Wimborne Music Society.
His output as a composer includes three cantatas for chorus, orchestra and soloists, some church music and a variety of instrumental pieces.
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