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The Society was extremely pleased to appoint Chris as musical director at the March 2011 AGM.
Chris Whiting is a well known local musician and has played across the county on various occasions and in various venues.
 He has inhabited the role of resident accompanist for the Great Yarmouth Choral Society since 2008 and is also the accompanist for Gorleston Community Choir since its inception in 2009. Chris is also a well respected local piano tutor and teaches the instrument at Allens Music Centre and recently became the resident piano tutor at the recently formed and critically acclaimed local performing arts academy, DPA. Chris’ experience as a pianist has included giving solo recitals at the Royal College of Music in London, the Old Granary Studio and the University of East Anglia. Chris also conducted the UEA Symphony Orchestra on occasions during his time there. Chris was also the Assistant Musical Director for the UEA Drama Society production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sondheim). In 2009, Chris graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BA (Hons) Degree in Music and recently became a fully qualified teacher of music by attaining his Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from the Open University.
Chris’ first experience of Gilbert and Sullivan was in September 2005 when he became the society accompanist. However, the society does have a family connection with Chris as one of his aunts, Gill Whiley, has been and still is a prominent singer within the society. Another aunt, Lindsay Richards, has also been a performer and co-director for the society in recent years. When Chris began with the society in 2005, they were staging what was to become their last full stage production in June 2006, HMS Pinafore, and Chris was proud that it was a huge success. After a short respite to get his degree studies underway, he returned to the society in September 2007 after they had recruited the services of Peter Murray as Musical Director. Chris learned a great deal from Peter about the art of musical direction and, perhaps more appropriately, the art of Gilbert and Sullivan, during this time.
As mentioned, Chris has been the society accompanist since 2005 and has performed in over a dozen concerts for the society with varied programmes during this time. Chris has made some good friends in the society and he feels very passionately about it and hopes that it can continue to entertain audiences in the local area under his musical direction. He also hopes that he can encourage audiences, through society performances, to get involved and aid in the recruitment of new members to boost the ranks and help make the society as fresh and original as possible. Chris is honoured to take up the position that Peter Murray has made a huge success of and hopes to continue giving the society the level of musical direction that it deserves. Equally, he hopes that the audiences will continue to attend, engage with, and, ultimately, enjoy the concerts given by the Great Yarmouth Gilbert and Sullivan Society for years to come
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