Director of Music
Robert Owens

Robert Owens is a Conductor, Vocal-Coach and Classical Tenor from North Wales, currently based in Manchester. His passion for the male voice tradition started young, and when he was a child he sang for many choirs nationwide, including the Rhos Male Voice Choir, the Youth Choir of Great Britain and the Junior RNCM Vocal Ensemble. He began his journey as a conductor when at school, and at the young age of 14 with Cor Meibion Rhos- a mixed voice choir based in North Wales. Robert has gone on to work with many choirs across England and North Wales.
Prior to attending the RNCM for his undergraduate degree, Robert studied at the Junior RNCM where he had the famous Wagnerian tenor Jeffrey Lawton as his principal tutor. At the same time Robert studied saxophone, piano and conducting.
Robert graduated with Honours from the Royal Northern College of Music where he had studied Vocal and Conducting with principal tutor and professional singer and conductor Sir Matthew Best. Whilst studying at the RNCM, Robert was delighted to sing as a part of the RNCM Vocal Ensemble and Opera Chorus.
In 2015, Robert began working as the Director of Music for the Greater Manchester Police Choir. During this time, he led the choir at concerts nationally and internationally, including a highlight performance at Gaukirche St. Ulrich in Paderborn, Germany. In 2018, he was privileged to conduct the Emergency Services Choir as a part of the internationally televised Manchester Together With One Voice concert in the wake of the tragic Manchester bombing.
Robert has held the position of Director of Music with the Macclesfield Male Voice Choir since January 2018. Since then, he has led the choir across the national stage, including the International Eisteddfod and the Isle of Man Festival of Choirs. In 2022, he took over as the Musical Director of Audley Male Voice Choir. He looks forward to a bright future with both.
Accompanist
Anna Hoi Ching Chiu

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Anna Hoi Ching Chiu obtained her Master of Performance in Piano Accompaniment at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester under the tutelage of David Jones. She received Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music from Hong Kong Baptist University, studied with Chan Sham Siu Wai Sylvia.
Anna was the recipient of RNCM Brodsky Cross-School Prize with The Lucrezia Trio as harpsichordist in 2017, Piano Prize of RNCM Chris Petty English Song Competition and Milton Waring Award in 2018. During and after her studies, she was selected as one of the Leeds Lieder Young Artists in both 2018 and 2023 and performed at the Breakfast Concerts. She has participated in events such as a Claude Debussy Mélodies Workshop as part of the RNCM Debussy Centenary Conference and a Melofonetica Workshop. As a member of RNCM Songsters, she took part in the 2018 Day of Song and 2017 Open Day. Anna has participated in masterclasses given by Malcom Martineau, John Mark Ainsley, James Baillieu and Julius Drake.
As a Manchester based accompanist, Anna is active in various events across the Continents. Played as one of the accompanists, Anna performed with Hong Kong Youth Choir under the baton of world’s renown composer, Bob Chilcott in 2020. In 2019, Anna had her France debut at St Gaudéric Festival, performing as accompanist in Opera Gala and Lunchtime Recital along with RNCM soloists, as well as rehearsal pianist and continuo player in Handel’s Messiah conducted by Colin Beeson.
Active in choral accompaniment, Anna’s recent collaboration includes Macclesfield and Audley Male Voice Choir and Gey Teal Music. Her past choral rehearsal accompaniment experience includes Hong Kong Youth Choir for J.S. Bach Motets Concert and Opera Hong Kong Children Chorus in Mozart’s The Magic Flute production in 2018.
Meet The Singers
![]() Keith JonesSome of my best memories have been when we have had the opportunity to travel and competed around the world. | ![]() Dave CollinsI never, ever considered joining a choir, but I was told 6 years ago that I would be picked up at 6.30 p.m. for a rehearsal [just that], and I can honestly say, I've never looked back and I've come to know some really people. All I would say is give it a go, you'll never know till you've tried. My family love coming to our concerts, they even travel from the north east. |
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