Who are We?

Musical Director - James W Morgan 
Born in Willenhall in 1952, James W. Morgan, studied at the Huddersfield School of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and Indiana State University, the first of many educational visits to the USA, which included a year’s teaching on a Fulbright Scholarship. He became Head of Music at King James’ School, Almondbury in 1982, the same year that he took over the Holme Valley Singers (Choir – as it then was) from Alan Simmons. Helping the choir to achieve its many successes were three fantastic accompanists – Simon Murray, Sue Ogden and Jane Robertson, to whom he owes undying thanks.
 
In 1988 he went to Holmfirth High School as Director of Music and spent the rest of his teaching career there. His performing experience include the Hallé Orchestra, the Black Dyke Mills Band and the Mastersingers, for whom he still drums, sings, writes and co-directs. He also sings bass in the Choir of Christ Church, New Mill, has recorded at Abbey Rd, conducted at the Royal Albert Hall and Directed the Daily Service for BBC Radio 4, with Mastersingers and HVS.
 
In 1990, he founded the Holme Valley Orchestra.
 
He has done vocal workshops for both Sing for Pleasure and the National Association of Choirs and has also conducted Colne Valley MVC and both Brighouse and Rastrick Band and the Black Dyke Band.
 
James has collaborated with local composer Barry Russell on many occasions, resulting in successful performances at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the National Festival of Music for Youth and the Schools Prom.
 
He continues to compose and arrange and tries to eak out a few sheckles from www.morganmusic.co.uk. Although he retired from the Holme Valley Orchestra in 2021 he took over the Directorship of Gledholt Male Voice Choir, joining up back up with Jane Robertson for another wonderful collaboration.

Exciting times ahead.
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Accompanist - Jane Robertson
​Jane Robertson is a well-established accompanist and teacher of the pianoforte. At the age of eleven Jane won a Hertfordshire County Scholarship to further her studies at the Watford School of Music under David Paul Martin. At eighteen she moved on to the Royal College of Music in London to study piano and piano accompaniment.

After graduating she gave a number of solo recitals in and around London as well as making recordings and performing live broadcasts for regional television. Since moving to Yorkshire she has undertaken freelance accompanying work for solo instrumentalists, vocal groups and the University of Huddersfield music department as well as performing solo concerto engagements. In 2007 she undertook the role of Alice Elgar (only the hands!) for a biographical film made for the Elgar Museum in Worcester.
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Jane was formerly the resident accompanist for the Alan Simmon's Mastersingers for many years. She is also part of the RO’KA piano duo.
Jane became the resident accompanist for the Huddersfield Choral Junior Choirs in 2007 and was appointed by Gledholt Male Voice Choir in 2012. She has become an invaluable part of the team for each choir.

President - Raymond Butterworth

Committee
Roger Ellis (Chairman)
Gordon Wilson (Secretary)
John Webster (Treasuer)
John Taylor (Librarian)
Peter Norman (Registrar)
Steven Daniel
Ralph Leach
John Topham
Bryn Moore
Geoff Haigh
Mike Senior
Clive Martin

'Temeraire' Editors : David Blakborough and Raymond Butterworth
Website : Rajan Beadle and Sam McNeil
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