Music Team

The Music Team is responsible for the high quality of performance that the choir aims to produce and for maintaining its favorable reputation in the local area.

  • Music Director: David Heasman

    David joined the Choir as a baritone and second tenor in 1963, when he was not long out of short trousers! He stood in as conductor for one concert, several decades ago, when the previous incumbent was unfortunately taken ill. David has been the Music Director ever since, leading the majority of rehearsals, conducting all performances and fulfilling the role of Master of Ceremonies. He has conducted the choir at a variety of venues across the UK., including concert halls , cathedrals and football stadiums. He has been on every choir tour during the last 30 years from Boston in the U.S.A. to Normandy to Ireland to Scotland to Wales and Jersey. In 2016, David was delighted to appear as one of the joint conductors at 75th anniversary concert with the Band of the RAF Regiment in Rickmansworth.

    David works tirelessly to improve the musicality of the choir, choosing appropriate musical programmes each year; giving weekly feedback and general suggestions for improvement in his "View from the Front" reports; providing advice and teaching materials; attending Executive meetings and presenting his annual report at the AGM to ensure that singing is central to the strategic development of the choir. He does all this, and much more besides, behind the scenes, with energy and a sense of humour that adds to the fun of belonging to HAMC.

    In November 2013, HAMC celebrated with David, at the Annual Dinner Dance, his 40th Anniversary as Music Director. The chairman made a speech and presented David with gifts from the choir, marking his magnificent contribution.

  • Principal Accompanist: Avis Gerry

    Avis has been accompanying the Harrow Apollo Male Choir since May 2011. Her first appearance with HAMC was at the West London Sangerstevne at St Matthew's Church Ealing and the set up was such that the piano was at the back, behind the choir and she could not see the conductor. Avis coped admirably but feared she would get her marching orders after just one appearance. However, it had the opposite effect, demonstrating how skillful a musician she is.

    Avis is an adept accompanist, never demonstrating this more admirably than when she stepped into the breach at the opening of the Bomber Command Memorial event in Hyde Park. She found herself playing at this high profile event, at very short notice.

    Music has always been part of her life. The daughter of an organist, she had piano lessons at an early age and began accompanying, while still at school. It was while in the school choir, aged 9, that Avis discovered that she has perfect pitch. Progressing to Harrow County Girls' school with its high reputation for music, despite there only being one music teacher. Avis soon became her deputy and played for assemblies, prize-givings and the like and hasn't looked back since.

    Avis is also in demand as a church organist. In 1974, she succeeded her father as organist at Cannon Lane Methodist Church in Pinner, where she also runs a singing group, which performs songs from musicals and carols at Christmas time, at local residential homes and church fellowships.

    Since retiring from the Civil Service, where she also took advantage of the opportunities to participate in musical activities, Avis now works with up to 6 choirs, including HAMC and occasional work with Kingsbury Amateur Operatic Society (KAOS). She is the Musical Director and accompanist of a ladies choir in nearby Hatch End, and is an accomplished choral singer, performing with the Harrow Choral Society.

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  • Deputy Music Director & Deputy Accompanist: Phil Southgate 

    Phil joined the choir in the joint roles of Deputy Music Director and Deputy Accompanist in 2017, being introduced to the members at the AGM in May. Since then, he has conducted and accompanied a number rehearsals and made a recording of the St Anselm's concert.

    Phil is a musician and piano teacher based in Pinner.

    He was a Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Musician finalist, taught by David Pickthall MBE and tutored by jazz legend Digby Fairweather.

    Phil has performed at top London venues including St John's Smith Square, Oxo Tower and Jazz After Dark and throughout the UK including Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, Gawsworth Hall and Buxton Opera House. Residencies at Browns in Bristol, Charlotte Street Blues Bar, Le Quecumbar, and La Samaritaine & Hotel Mercure in Marseilles. Supported Joan Armatrading MBE on tour. Also performed throughout Europe and in South America.

    Performed live on BBC radio with Phillipa Leigh. Compositions have appeared on MTV, Propeller TV and BBC Radio Two.

Section Leaders

Section Leaders have an important role to play in ensuring the development of the high standards of performance to which the Choir aspires.

Each section has a leader, who is responsibleto the Music Director for providing a supportive role in theconduct, management, performance and development of their sections. This includes maintaining discipline and the attention of choristerswithin their section, to the MD, during rehearsals and concerts and while other sections are being rehearsed.

1st Tenors: Ronnie Towerzey

2nd Tenors: Steve Breed

Baritones: Rod Nicholas

Basses: Geoff Lee