Musical Director

Christopher Pratt This season will be Chris’s eighth with South Nutfield Choral Society.  He is a Music graduate of Hull University and holds a performer’s diploma in pianoforte from the London College of Music.   His relationship with the choral society began when he was invited to accompany the society’s concerts.  His main musical interest, however, is choral conducting and choir training . The  friendly atmosphere of the society  and the village and the willingness of the membership to learn and to accept new challenges persuaded him to accept its Musical Directorship. Chris has studied choral conducting with Simon Halsey and orchestral conducting with George Hurst. He has directed Dorking Operatic Society, The Opera Club of Reigate and Redhill, The East Surrey Operatic Society, The South East Surrey Youth Orchestra and Brockham Choral Society.  He has also worked with Crawley Concordia,  Reigate and Redhill Choral Society and Beare Green and Newdigate Choral Society. Chris has recently given three solo piano recitals and another is planned, for this November coming, in St. Martin’s Church, Dorking.  He studies piano with the celebrated pianist, Peter Croser, under whose direction he recently performed Schumann’s Piano Quartet. He also plays the church organ and now works as a freelance church organist and choir trainer. He composed the music for “As You Like It” at the Polesden Lacey Open Air Theatre.  His jazz arrangements enabled his school band to reach the semi-finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth  and he has also composed or arranged some of the music performed recently by SNCS.  He is an expert in computer based Music Technology. Chris was given an award for outstanding achievement for his work as a teacher with Surrey County Council.  He now teaches the piano privately and also  specialises in coaching advanced students for examinations in the theory of music and for the Advanced Level school music exams. © South Nutfield Choral Society 2011