Richard McHale
Richard McHale studied piano privately from an early age. His interest in playing the organ started when he was a chorister in a Chorlton church. He has held positions as Organist in several churches in Manchester.
After graduating from the University of Kent at Canterbury (where he studied Chemistry), Richard returned to Manchester to study ‘Voice’ privately and ‘Performing Arts’ at City College (now The Manchester College).
Richard is accompanist for Sale Gilbert and Sullivan Society and conducts the chamber choir ‘Duodecimo’.
He has been employed as Organist at The Manchester Crematorium for just over 20 years
Richard Lowe
Richard Lowe received his first musical education as a treble in the Manchester Cathedral Voluntary Choir and later Sir John Deane’s College in Northwich where he was college organist.
Richard graduated with an honours degree in Theology from Oxford University in 2002. Whilst in Oxford, Richard sang with Chapel Choir of The Queen’s College, with its reputation as Oxford’s finest mixed chapel choir, performing in many venues internationally. With the Queen’s choir he also recorded on the Guild Label.
He has been a countertenor lay clerk in the choir of Manchester Cathedral and was, until 2004 director of the St. Oswald’s Church Choir in Lower Peover. In 2004 became Director of Music at Christ Church, West Didsbury, Manchester, where he also coordinates the church’s active concert programme. In September 2005, Richard became organ adviser for the Diocese of Manchester and in 2007 became one of the 3 resident organists of The Manchester Crematorium. Since 2014 he has been organist and curator of the Cavaille-Coll organ at Manchester Town Hall and chairman of the Manchester Cavaille-Coll Organ Trust.
Richard is a deputy ley clerk with the choirs of Chester and Liverpool Anglican cathedrals and an often be found at the console of ‘The Mighty WurliTzer’!
Andrew Condliffe-Jones
Andrew’s musical career began as a chorister some 20 years ago which led to him studying first the piano and then the organ
Since then he has had a varied career in music, including four years travelling the seas as Musical Director aboard P & O cruises. In addition, he founded and directed the Stoke on Trent Choir ‘Canzonetta’ and the Orchestra ‘Coda’, whilst also holding post as Director of Music at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Porthill.
In 2007, along with his partner, Andrew moved to Manchester to continue studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied the organ with Jeffrey Makinson and Thomas Trotter. He has performed in master classes with Jeremy Fillsel, Kevin Bowyer, and Thomas Trotter. Since 2007 Andrew has held post as Director of Music at the busy parish church of St Paul, Withington, South Manchester. Here he runs the busy and lively music department.
Andrew is also an accomplished continuo performer and has a great interest in harpsichord continuo in early Baroque repertoire. To date he has performed with many well known artists, including Nicholas Kraemer.