Honorary Patron - Alan Titchmarsh
Music has always played an important part in Alan’s life. As a young boy he sang treble in the church choir and as a young man he was a member of the Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society. On occasion he has spontaneously joined with Hart MVC on stage. Now well established as a national treasure Alan has presented the BBC’s coverage of The Chelsea Flower Show, programmes such as Gardeners’ World, Ground Force and British Isles – a Natural History, BBC Radio 2’s Melodies for You and his own daytime ITV television show. Currently over a million people tune in to Classic FM every Saturday morning to enjoy a mixed selection of Alan’s classical music favourites. Alan was appointed MBE in 2000, a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire in 2001, and in 2004 received the Victoria Medal of Honour, the highest accolade in the British gardening world. Alan was President of Hart Male Voice Choir for seven years before his appointment to the position of Honorary Patron.
President - Dr. Haydn James
Dr Haydn James is a conductor/arranger with many years’ experience in the world of choral music. For twelve years, he conducted The Dylan Singers, and for the following thirty years was Musical Director of The London Welsh Male Voice Choir; also, for five years Haydn travelled to Wales to direct The South Wales Male Choir, one of the largest choirs in the Principality. During this time, he has appeared at most of the UK’s major concert halls, and has toured extensively throughout the globe. Haydn has worked with many of the UK’s leading artistes, including Sir Bryn Terfel, Sir Geraint Evans, Katherine Jenkins, Aled Jones, Lesley Garrett, Charlotte Church, Sir Tom Jones, Max Boyce and Rick Wakeman, In addition he has conducted many leading brass & military bands including the Cory Band, the Black Dyke Band, the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh, the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards, the Life Guards, the Grenadier Guards, the Blues and Royals, the Royal Marines and the Central Band of the RAF. As a choral arranger, Haydn’s work has been performed and recorded by many of the top UK and international male voice choirs as well as Hart Male Voice Choir based in Odiham. In 2018 Hart Male Voice Choir offered Dr. Haydn James the role of President. As an old friend of the choir Haydn was delighted to accept the position.
Kevin Jacot - Musical Director
Since 2017 Kevin Jacot has been Musical Director for the popular, Odiham based Hart Male Voice Choir. Kevin began his musical education as a chorister at St. Michael’s College, Tenbury, and later sang for London cathedrals and churches whilst studying Music at the University of Surrey. He is an accomplished pianist and fine tenor singer finds pleasure and satisfaction in public performance. He is involved with local community groups and manages the “Sing for Joy” choir. He is also in demand as an organist and violin soloist for local churches. As a composer Kevin has written songs and arrangements for Farnham Festivals. He has also composed several choral and secular pieces for choirs including a setting of the Mass performed in Winchester Cathedral as well as an arrangement of Peter Skellern’s beautiful song ‘ Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory ’ for Hart MVC.
Kevin has broadcast for the BBC and on a more light-hearted side, he has performed at the London Palladium with Sir Cliff Richard, Julia Migenes and Clive Rowe which included his own arrangement of ‘Jailhouse Rock’ with Sir Cliff at his house in St. George’s Hill.
As Musical Director for Hart Male Voice Choir Kevin enjoys the challenge of working with the 65 strong Hart MVC choir to produce quality performances for a programme of lively and successful concerts.
