Richard Haigh – Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir Chairman

Richard’s musical career started at the age of 6 when he joined Scissett (near Huddersfield) Parish Church choir. After singing in youth choirs and taking part in operatic productions whilst at school there followed a fallow period, but then he joined Wakefield Cathedral Choir in 1966 retiring in 2005 after 39 years service. In 1961 he joined the Thornesian Guild of Singers which successively became the Thornesian Singers and then the Yorkshire Chamber Choir before adopting its present title of the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir in 1989. Having been immersed in the classical choral tradition Richard’s favourite genres are the Medieval, Renaissance and early Baroque periods then skipping the 18th and 19th centuries to 20th Century Classical. At the other end of the spectrum he confesses to being a fan of ‘cool jazz’ and the ‘big band sound’. Richard has been chairman of the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir for the last ten years, and in July 2007 gained a richly deserved award for the Most Committed Committee Member sponsored by DIVA (Development Initiatives for Voluntary Arts).

Outside music Richard’s other major interest has been sport, particularly hockey, joining Wakefield Hockey Club also in 1961. After playing as a goalkeeper for many years he became an umpire in 1977 and finally retired from the game in 2000. During his time at the club he was Chairman, Secretary and Fixture Secretary as well as being Secretary and eventually President of the Yorkshire Hockey Association.

Richard’s wife Chris is a retired PE teacher and has also spent a lifetime in music and sport. Richard and Chris married in 1963 and they have two children – Sally (who is also now in the choir), and Alastair (a naval pilot brought up in the same musical tradition) – and four grandchildren. Educated at Penistone Grammar School and Huddersfield Technical College, Richard’s working life was spent for a short time in banking but the rest of his career was in the Oil Industry where he was a Sales Director for many years.

Thomas Moore – Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir Accompanist

Thomas Moore was born in Leicester, and started his musical career early, beginning to play the piano at the age of four. He was a treble in Leicester Cathedral Choir, and was inspired to start organ lessons with the Cathedral Assistant Organist, Geoffrey Carter.

After Tom had completed his schooling in Leicester, he moved to Huddersfield to take a Bachelor of Music degree at the University. He majored in organ studies, studying under Keith Jarvis, and taking part in master classes given by Dame Gillian Weir, David Titterington, and Peter Hurford. During his time in West Yorkshire, he broadcast on radio and television, and was successively organ Scholar at Huddersfield Parish Church and Bradford Cathedral, playing the organ for the Royal Maundy Thursday service, in March 1997.

Following graduation in September 1998, Tom was appointed Assistant Organist at Peterborough Cathedral, and eventually returned to Huddersfield University to study for his Master of Arts in Music, graduating in September 1999.

In September 2002, Tom assumed his present appointment as Assistant Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral, and Director of the girl choristers of the Cathedral Choir. Tom is also regularly in demand as a freelance recitalist and is the resident accompanist for the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir and the Overgate Hospice Choir. He is on the teaching staff at Huddersfield University and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield.