Our Musical Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Jones

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Mark Jones has been Musical Director of Fakenham Choral Society since the beginning of October 2018, following in the footsteps of our much loved previous director, Janet Kelsey.

 

The musical life of organist Mark Jones started when he became a chorister at Exeter Cathedral, before winning a music scholarship to King’s College Taunton. He was later a pupil at the Royal College of Music in London for five years where he studied organ, piano and conducting. A pupil of Ralph Downes, he won the top organ prize at the college. In London he played the organ at the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy and at Holy Trinity, Sloane Street. 

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After four years at Ellesmere College in Shropshire and five at Rossall School in Lancashire, Mark moved to Gresham’s School in Norfolk, where he directed the music for nearly 21 years. At the end of 2015 he moved to Geneva, where he became assistant director of music at Holy Trinity Church. 

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After leaving Geneva at the beginning of 2018 Mark became director of music at St Andrew’s church in Holt. Mark returned to Geneva on a regular basis prior to the pandemic and he gave several recitals in the cathedral. He was appointed musical director of Fakenham Choral Society in October 2018 and musical director of North Norfolk Chamber Opera in 2019. In 2019 he returned to Gresham’s as chapel organist and in 2020 was appointed head of chapel music at the school.

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Our Accompanist

 

Matthew Preston

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Matthew began his piano tuition at Alderman Peel High School in Wells Next-the-Sea at the age of eleven. He  studied  for  two  years  at  the  College  of  West  Anglia  graduating with a triple distinction in Music. In 2011, Matthew commenced further education at Leeds  College  of  Music. Studying  for  a  Bachelor’s  Degree  in  Classical  Composition, he graduated with a first-class honours degree. In December 2016 he passed his ABRSM Diploma in Piano Performance with distinction, and obtained two further distinctions in the London College of Music piano duet diplomas. 

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Matthew teaches piano and theory across the age range  at  Wells-next-the-Sea  Primary  School, Burnham Market Primary School, Alderman Peel High School, Beeston Hall School and Glebe House School. In addition to his school tutoring, Matthew teaches numerous students privately in Fakenham and in the surrounding area. He is one half of the comedy cabaret  ‘The  Missing  Coda Company’, which both entertains audiences and provides extra performance opportunities for young students with musical potential. Matthew is a regular  solo performer  having  played  at  many  local  venues such as Holkham Hall and the Wells Maltings. 

 

He  has  held  the  role  of organist for the Briningham Benefice and Burnham Deepdale Church, and he has been accompanist for  the  Dersingham  Community  Choir  (formerly  Hunstanton  Community  Choir)  for over  a  decade.  Matthew  also  plays  the  piano  for  professional events  with  Sara Longe (violin) as part of a duo called Sea Fever and is a founding member of The Beeston Trio.  In  addition  to  this,  he  has  recently  taken  on  the  role  of  Regional Organiser  for the European  Piano  Teachers  Association  (Norfolk)  and  has  become  a Trustee of the Norfolk County Music Festival.

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Matthew is currently working on his FLCM Piano Duet diploma and his LRSM in Piano Performance.

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Matthew lives in Fakenham with his partner Holly and their two children Harry (5) and Mabel (2). 

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