Musical Director Alice Martin
Alice has been appointed as the Wycombe Orpheus Choir Musical Director for the remainder of our 2023-4 season. She succeeds Stephen Mitchell who has stepped down after four demanding and successful years in the post. We thank Stephen for his massive contribution to our choir life.
Alice joined the choir as Associate Musical Director for the Autumn 2023 season, and her confirmation as MD is a tribute to her abilities in that development role.
She first came to the Choir’s notice as a regular young performer in the Orpheus “Festival of Young Musicians”, ultimately leading to the 2019 Senior trophy for her many distinguished contributions, both singing and instrumental.
Alice graduated as a Bachelor of Music from University of Birmingham in 2022, and during her time she performed at Birmingham Symphony Hall and Town Hall with the Birmingham University Singers (conducted by Bob Chilcott), and she was President of the Musical Theatre society.
She is a keen choral singer in numerous choirs, including the National Youth Choir and Chamber Choir of Great Britain, and is in the current cohort of Genesis 16, a young artist choral programme run by The Sixteen. Alice frequently sings in concerts and recordings, with recent highlights including a collaboration concert joining the BBC Singers, and the London Handel Festival 2023.
Alice is developing her Music Education portfolio, and currently works as the Graduate Music Assistant at the Royal Grammar School, whilst doing instrumental teaching and accompanying alongside. She leads singing workshops at Alfriston School for those with special educational needs, and conducts a Musical Theatre choir at Chiltern Music Academy.
Accompanist Roger Witney
Roger joined the Orpheus as our Accompanist from our Autumn season in 2021. He plays a vital part not only accompanying our rehearsals and concerts, but in leading practice sessions and preparing rehearsal recordings to assist our learning.
He studied music at Birmingham University and went on to pursue a career in teaching. Most of his spare time, however, was spent in accompanying singers and choirs, conducting or playing in the pit for music theatre productions and providing keyboard music for cabarets or special occasions.
Roger is a regular tutor at the National Youth Music Camps, for whom he has written many musicals. He is also currently organist and choirmaster at St Mary the Virgin, Langley.
