Biographies

Tom Edney

Music Director

Tom is a conductor, researcher, and editor whose work is driven by a passion for storytelling, imaginative programming, and widening access to music. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Odiham Music Festival and the Founder and Conductor of the Mira Ensemble, an upper-voice vocal ensemble dedicated to exploring the huge wealth of repertoire written for women’s voices. The ensemble's debut recording, released in June 2026, received positive critical acclaim and established the group as an exciting new voice in British choral music.

Tom currently serves as Conductor of the Durham Singers and the Jubilee Choir, alongside a busy schedule of guest conducting and deputising engagements across London and the South of England. His work encompasses a wide range of repertoire, from large-scale choral-orchestral works to intimate chamber performances. He has particular experience in semi-staged productions, having conducted performances of Oliver Tarney's St Mark Passion, directed by Donna Stirrup, and is currently preparing a recording of Tarney's The Night Before Christmas. Previously, Tom was Artistic Director of Vox Populi, an eight-part vocal ensemble based in the North East, and directed the Newcastle Youth Choir Project, reflecting his longstanding commitment to nurturing singers at all levels of experience. Across all his work, he seeks to create performances that place narrative and communication at their heart, bringing audiences into direct engagement with the music.

Alongside his conducting career, Tom is an active musicologist and editor. He is currently completing a PhD at the Royal College of Music on visionary British choral-orchestral works of the 1960s and has published research in a range of academic journals. His research interests centre on twentieth-century British and French music, with a particular focus on overlooked repertoire and the relationship between scholarship and performance. As an editor, Tom has worked extensively on the music of Avril Coleridge-Taylor and other marginalised composers, preparing editions that enable neglected works to return to the concert platform. This commitment to uncovering new perspectives and championing underrepresented voices informs both his research and his programming as a conductor.

Whether on the podium, in the archive, or in the rehearsal room, Tom is committed to making music accessible to all. His diverse portfolio reflects a belief that scholarship and performance should work together to inspire curiosity, deepen understanding, and create meaningful musical experiences for performers and audiences alike.

Steve Bowey B.Eng, FRCO

Deputy Music Director & Accompanist

Steve studied organ and piano from an early age, playing the organ regularly at St Francis and St Andrew’s churches in Coulsdon. After gaining an engineering degree from Salford University he moved to Newbury to work for Vodafone. In 1991 Steve was appointed accompanist of the Cromwell Singers and later became their Musical Director. From 1992, he was Director of Music at St Mary's Church, Shaw-cum-Donnington and regularly worked with other local choirs, including the Douai Choral Society, the Downland Chorale, the RSCM Southern Cathedral Singers, Berkshire Maestros youth choirs and Worcester College Oxford.

In 2006 Steve joined the Royal College of Organists and in July the following year took the examination for Associate (ARCO) for which he was awarded the Limpus prize for performance, as well as the Sowerbutts and Samuel Baker prizes. After further study, he was awarded the Fellowship Diploma (FRCO) in January 2011. His current musical commitments include teaching organ, piano, and music theory. He is Director of Music at St Mary’s Shaw-cum-Donnington, organist at Cheam School and regularly gives solo organ recitals. Steve is currently the regular accompanist for Newbury Choral Society and The Cecilia Consort and also enjoys working with the other choirs in Newbury and the surrounding area.
In 2025 Steve accepted the position of Assistant Chorus Master and we are delighted to have him sharing the role with Janet.

Janet Coxwell

Assistant Chorus Master

Since graduating from London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Janet has worked professionally as a solo artist and consort singer. Whilst specialising in Early Music and performing with many of the UK’s leading ensembles, her musical versatility boasts many other genres and musical styles and she has worked closely with Norfolk-based composer, Patrick Hawes, on many of his original works. Their first album Blue In Bluedrew critical acclaim with Janet’s voice being described as ‘melting honey on freshly buttered toast’ (BBC Radio 3). Her ‘bell-like tones’ (Financial Times) are often heard on TV, film and radio as well as on numerous classical and pop CDs. Janet enjoyed 23 wonderful years with the Tallis Scholars and performed in more than 900 concerts world-wide with this world-renowned ensemble. She continues to perform and record but her love of teaching means she spends more time in the UK these days. Janet is Head of Choral Studies at Cheam School and enjoys working with her ever increasing ‘family’ of students and choristers.

Janet and David Woodcock (Head of Music at Harrow School) are both Directors of the newly formed 'Early Music Academy' which enjoyed a hugely successful inaugural summer season in 2015. Janet and David also ran their first US season of the EMA Summer School in Boston in 2017.

As well as a busy performing schedule, Janet enjoys adjudicating choral competitions, leading singing master classes and running choral workshops, she especially loves working with and training amateur singers. She lives in Highclere (Downton Abbey land) and has enjoyed a long and fruitful association with several Newbury based choirs including ‘Newbury Choral Society’, where she is Assistant Musical Director.