Who’s Who in the Choir

Principal MD: Phil Southgate

Phil was appointed Principal Music Director in April 2024. He originally joined the choir in 2017 in the joint roles of Deputy Musical Director and Deputy Accompanist. Phil is a full-time musician, a composer/arranger and piano teacher based in Northwood. He was a Daily Telegraph Young Musician Finalist tutored by jazz legend Digby Fairweather.

Phil has performed at top London venues including St John’s Smith Square as well as throughout the UK, Europe and South America. His compositions have appeared on BBC Radio 2, MTV and Propeller TV. In 2022 Phil presented at the Bach Network at Madingley Hall, Cambridge University.

Currently Phil is performing and collaborating with Alison Wheeler, who was lead singer of the Beautiful South, after co-founding the Southern Beauty Collective with her and Phillipa Leigh.

Music Director Emeritus and Choir President: David Heasman

David joined the choir in 1963 as a baritone and second tenor. Ten years later he stood in for the conductor at a moment’s notice and not long after was appointed Music Director, a post he held with distinction until April 2024. For over 50 years in this role he oversaw the expansion and development of the choir. His drive and enthusiasm ensured a high quality of performance, and the choir has become well known and loved in the local community.

Under his direction the choir has significantly supported charities in Harrow and beyond. He conducted the choir in many venues ranging from Arsenal football stadium, the Royal Albert Hall to Chester Cathedral. David also led the choir on over a dozen tours from Boston U.S.A to France, Ireland, Scotland and Jersey.

Whilst he has stepped down from his principal role David is still on hand to assist the choir when needed. In recognition of his exemplary service David was appointed choir President in 2024.

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.