Robert Jones
MA, FRCO
Musical Director and Conductor
Director of Music of St. Bride’s, the Wren church in Fleet Street in the City of London, since 1988, Robert joined ERCS in January 2009
He studied singing and organ at Christ Church college, Oxford, and later sang with the Tallis Scholars, the Orlando Consort and the Gabrieli Consort and has made many recordings with them.
He also holds several teaching posts including St. George’s School, Windsor, and has been an examiner for the ABRSM since 2004, working in the Far East as well as in the UK.
Robert’s attention to detail keeps us on our toes, and his ability to attract talented soloists makes our concerts an inspiring experience for the choir as well as for the audience.
Mark Hammond, MA (Cantab),
PGCE (Dunhelm), FRCO, LRAM
Organist
Organist and Director of Music at St. Edmund’s Church, Northwood Hills.
He read music at Peterhouse, Cambridge where he was organ scholar. He then trained as a teacher at Durham University. He has also taught Mathematics and Computer Science. In Summer 2023 Mark retired after thirty four years as Assistant Director of Music at St Margaret's School, Bushey. He is now a freelance organist, pianist and accompanist. With the school's Chapel Choir, Mark played in St Paul's Cathedral, York Minster, the Royal Albert Hall, St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh and Chartres Cathedral.
Mark began to learn the organ at thirteen with the late Geoffrey Tristram at Christchurch Priory. He then studied with John Belcher at St Peter's, Bournemouth and with Martin Neary at Winchester Cathedral. At Cambridge he continued his
organ studies with the late David Sanger. He obtained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists in 1984. He also holds a Licenciate Piano Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music and is much in demand as a piano accompanist. Mark is
also an avid follower of Southampton Football Club.
(Our regular accompanist, Lawrence Frankel is on sabbatical and we are lucky that Mark has been able to take his place.)