Introducing Our Conductor Andrew Daldorph Andrew Daldorph moved to the West Country in 2000 having first established his career as a freelance musician in the South East. He is now very much in demand as an organist, conductor, harpsichordist and teacher, working across the South West region and beyond. Having secured a first class degree in music from the University of Southampton, he went on to take up an organ scholarship at Guildford Cathedral under Andrew Milligan (now Organist and Choirmaster of Exeter Cathedral) in 1993. During this period, he gained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists and has taken lessons from many of the world's most eminent organists, including Dame Gillian Weir, Peter Hurford, David Hill and Andrew Sanger; whilst on the harpsichord, he has been taught by specialist Robert Woolley. Andrew remained living in the Guildford area having completed his time as Organ Scholar, regularly accompanying several local choirs both in rehearsal and in concert. He became the conductor of Holmsbury St Mary Choral Society and Horsley Choral Society, both of which successfully competed in the annual Leith Hill Festival. The semi-professional choir Musica Prattica was also formed by Andrew at this time. Normally 10 voices, this group is conducted by Andrew and consists of friends who had been choral scholars or cathedral lay clerks, and enables him to perform repertoire from early music through to jazz. Andrew also began composing and arranging music for choirs in this period. His first links with East Devon Choral Society were as a rehearsal accompanist whilst the choir was under the direction of conductor John Byrt. Upon John's retirement, Andrew was formally appointed as Musical Director in 2003. Since then, Andrew has enjoyed exploring and performing a diverse range of repertoire with the choir, including Handel's Coronation Anthems through to Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, sacred works such as Verdi's requiem and distinctly secular pieces such as Orff's Carmina Burana. Christmas concerts offer the opportunity to enjoy both traditional and more modern carols, whilst summer programmes have a lighter theme - such as a performance of opera choruses. In February 2005, EDCS took part in a performance of the Monteverdi Vespers in Exeter Cathedral. They joined forces with the Exeter Chamber Choir, which Andrew also conducts. The concert involved an orchestra of period instruments, professional soloists and the boy choristers of Exeter Cathedral. The combined choirs performed to a capacity audience in one of the most memorable concerts held in the Cathedral that year. Along with classical concerts and performances, Andrew enjoys teaching both privately and at Exeter School and also finds time to play jazz with his own trio as well as othe groups in the UK and abroad.