Singer, Conductor, Arranger, Composer, Sound Engineer, A Cappella Fan, Vocal Ensemble Teacher

Ontario

engineer, physicist etc

www.quintessence.ca

I am a physicist/engineer with another life in music. Sometimes the two domains intersect!

Church and then school choirs as a boy in the UK, then a folk group that did some interesting harmonies (Its last name was 'The Nobottle Hundred', even though we were only 3!). Then classical choirs in UK & France (a lot of baroque music!) out of which came experiments in vocal jazz. Moved to Canada, more classical choirs but started a vocal jazz group that became Quintessence and learned more about arranging, mostly by trial and error. More recently started Harmonic Generation to encourage involvement of a younger group in a cappella harmony singing; mostly pop-type arrangements.

of inspiring music teachers, most notably Mr Barnes at my secondary school, who taught me most of what I now use in arranging basics. My interest in vocal jazz was inspired by Manhattan Transfer's recording of 'Nightingale in Berkeley Square', and after hearing that I did a summer school with Swingle Singer Christiane Legrand in Bergerac, France - a life changing experience!

So many favourite songs, so little space!
Favourite a cappella arrangement? 'All the things you are' by Gene Puerling.
Favourite songs? Almost anything from West Side Story.
Favourite CD? Soundtrack from Mission by Ennio Morricone.
Artists? The Beatles, Sting and the Real Group.
Book? Maybe Mission by Patrick Tilley (nothing to do with the Morricone Film!)
Movies? 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' or 'The full Monty'

be retired and still not have time to get everything done.

My family. Printing. Trying to understand the world and the human mind. Friends around the world who love and share music. Margaux wine! Cheese souffle.