Director
Director of the Bach Winchester Voices is Andrew Hayman. He is a versatile musician, balancing his time as a conductor, accompanist, teacher, and singer, working with several choirs in and around Hampshire.
He is the Musical Director of Hampshire County Youth Choir, Kingsgate Voices, Southampton Choral Society and Bach Winchester Voices, working with singers of all ages and experience. His time with these groups has included directing a huge variety of repertoire, from Machaut to MacMillan, and Fats Waller to Fleetwood Mac. He has a particular delight in performing the music of Bach, and to date has covered over 75 of his cantatas, as well as larger works such as the Christmas Oratorio, the St John Passion and the St Matthew Passion. These choirs have taken him to prestigious venues such as Romsey Abbey, Winchester Cathedral, the Anvil and the Royal Albert Hall.
When not on the podium, Andrew can often be seen behind a keyboard for many of life’s important events, providing music for baptisms, weddings, funerals, or even jazz cocktail events. He teaches piano and singing for Hampshire Music Service and regularly accompanies local choral society rehearsals, including for the Waynflete Singers. He has composed for the various choirs he has been associated with, including a commission for a setting of The Spacious Firmament for premiere under Luke Jerram’s "Museum of the Moon" exhibition in Winchester Cathedral.
Andrew received his formative musical education in Newport Cathedral, Monmouth School, Wells Cathedral and then at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he sang in the choir. Having graduated with his degree in Music there, he spent ten years as a Lay Clerk, firstly in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and then at Winchester Cathedral. He has also remained active as an organist, earning his ARCO and accompanying choirs in numerous cathedrals across the country.
When not busy with musical endeavours, Andrew is an avid sports fan, subscribing to at least five cricket podcasts and loyally supporting his native Welsh rugby team. To balance his various computer-based work requirements, he has taken up running ever greater distances and is currently preparing for his second marathon.
Guest directors
The Bach Winchester Voices have also enjoyed working with a number of guest directors.
Their London events are often directed by Barbara Höfling, a conductor and singer with an international professional background and a keen interest in amateur choirs. She grew up in Hanover where she studied music as violinist, conductor and singer – which led to an international career and several CD recordings. She is currently music director of the Deutscher Chor London and associate choral director of the London Symphony Chorus, and has worked with the Symphony Orchestras of London and Birmingham. Barbara combines a keen interest in vocal techniques tailored to the specific choral repertoire with voice-warming energy and enthusiasm.
Tom Hammond-Davies directed the Crawley Bachistas and the Oxford Bach Soloists in a 2022 performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor.
Peter Foggitt and Jamal Sutton were guest directors for a Bach weekend each.
