Our Musical Team
Edward Whelan - Musical Director
Edward Whelan is a conductor, pianist, teacher and composer based in Ossett. He has worked with many choirs including Leeds Male Voice Choir, Horbury Singers, Sandal Singers, St Raphael Singers and Featherstone Male Voice Choir. Edward gives private lessons in piano, violin, music theory and singing. He gives regular piano recitals and composes in his spare time.
Accompanist - Mandy Jones
Born and raised in Southport, Lancashire, Mandy started piano lessons at the age of 6 years old. Over the years she has played for ballet schools, a professional clown, various amateur dramatic groups and the Boys Brigade Bible Class where she met her husband, Mark, with whom she has two, now adult, children.
Resident in Sherburn-in-Elmet for the past 26 years, Mandy initially was a schools pianist and later taught the music curriculum at a Primary School in Leeds. ?Since retiring, due to ill health, in 2014, she enjoys accompanying choirs, namely Featherstone MVC, the Fairburn Singers and Barnburgh MVC. She is also the organist at Micklefield Church.
Elaine Oakley - Accompanist
Elaine is the choir accompanist and has played for us for eight years. She is an accomplished musician, playing both the piano and viola and works as a peripatetic pianist in schools. Elaine lives in Horbury and loves baking, driving, walking and anything to do with music.
Her favourite song to play is Going Home but when listening to the choir, enjoys the Russian Hymn, Tibyeh Pieom. As a dedicated musician Elaine plays for a small group of singers, a panto society, and an operatic/musical theatre group. As she says, she just loves music.
An important part of Elaine’s life is her family. She has two grown up sons, one grandson and one granddaughter, and loves to spend time with them whenever possible.