Director of Music
Chris Cromar
Christopher Cromar is Music Director of Macclesfield Male Voice Choir. Until recently Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Aberdeen, he is a former Music Director of Congleton Choral Society, Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir and Keele University Bach Choir. He has worked with many other choirs including the BBC Singers, Brighton Festival Chorus, Radio France Chorus, and has conducted many prestigious orchestras including the CBSO, BBC Philharmonic, and English Symphony Orchestra. As an organist he has given recitals in prestigious venues including Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. His involvement with male voice choirs goes back to his time working with the Metropolitan Police Male Voice Choir, performing in Westminster Cathedral and the Barbican in London, and playing the organ for massed choir events in the Royal Festival and Albert Halls in London and elsewhere.
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.