New Musical Director
We are excited to announce the appointment of Tim Cranfield as our new Musical Director who will take over from Mark Anyan in March 2025.
Tim follows in the footsteps of three inspiring Musical Directors who have led NCS through its 70 year history. Starting in 1954 with the founder John Healy, then Len Young in 1976 and Mark Anyan from 2007.
A Message from Tim:
I’m absolutely thrilled to have been offered the role of Musical Director of NCS and I can’t wait to get started in March 2025.
It is a huge privilege to be able to work with such a well-established choral society whose desire to perform music to a high standard matches my own professional ambitions. This, alongside being able to continue the work of the Society and keep it flourishing and growing for years to come, will be a truly rewarding experience.
Tim grew up in Hertfordshire and started singing in his local parish choir when he was 7. While at school he took part in several music groups, including joining the local choral society (Orpheus Choir of North Herts), the National Youth Choir as well as the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir.
In 2016, he moved up to Newcastle to read music, where he studied conducting under Eric Cross and Mark Edwards, and Gareth Jones during a year abroad at the University of Calgary. He is currently working part-time towards for a PhD at Newcastle University researching the history of choral music in Newcastle during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Since 2019 Tim has been Director of Music at St Andrews Church where he regularly conducts and works with a select choir of university student scholars to provide high quality music to enrich church services. Coincidentally, John Healy, the founder of Newcastle Choral Society (then the St Andrews Singers), held a similar role at St Andrews where he was also organist from 1954.Tim has founded and grown that choir to a high standard versatile group, including setting the creative and strategic vision for music making at St Andrew’s. He has formed a close relationship with Newcastle Cathedral including the initiation of a joint organ scholarship and joint services with the Cathedral scholars.
At Newcastle Cathedral, Tim works as Music Administrator and sings Bass in the Cathedral Choir. He also plays trombone with Northumberland Orchestral Society where he has held the role of Chairman since 2016.
At Newcastle University, Tim is also the assistant Conductor and Tutor on the undergraduate Baroque Opera module as well as the New Vocal Ensemble.
Tim’s first rehearsal with Newcastle Choral Society will be Monday 10 March 2025
