We, the Kessenyan Singers, are based in Torpoint and draw our members (choristers and followers) mainly from South East Cornwall. There are however two choristers who cross the Tamar from Plymouth and without whom the choir would be the poorer.
We practice in the Cornerstone Chapel at 7-30pm most Tuesday evenings, and subsequently socialise in the Torpoint Club. Our Musical Director is Paul Morris, our accompanist is David Mashford and our Chairman is Sandie Pearce. Our Concert Manager is John Tivnan, who is a member of our tenor section.
Our Musical Director is Paul Morris from Landrake. Paul received his early musical training and experience at the Royal Masonic School for Boys where he studied Voice, Theory and French Horn.
After joining the BBC in Manchester he helped to form ‘The Chanticleers’ Folk Group and was also a founder member of, and performer with, the BBC Manchester Madrigal Society.
After emigrating in 1975 to Calgary in Canada, he was invited to join the Calgary Renaissance Singers, a 28-voice 8-part á capella choir specialising in sacred and secular music of the European Renaissance. He also sang with various other groups, including the massed choir for the Winter Olympic Gala Festival in 1988, and the Calgary Opera Society.
After returning to England in 1997, Paul sang with the Larrick Lads singing group of Landrake before joining the ‘Men in Black’ (the Polperro Fishermen’s Choir) for which he became Deputy Musical Director in February 2002, when he also became an accredited Music Teacher of Cornwall College. He joined us, the Kessenyan Singers, as a Bass/Baritone in January 2001, and became Deputy Musical Director in February 2002. He became Musical Director in February 2004 upon the resignation of our founder Phil Carrigan.
Phil founded the Kessenyan Singers in 1994 and is currently the Musical Director of the Polperro Fishermens Choir.
Our accompanist is David Mashford from Millbrook. David is an accomplished musician being the resident organist at Millbrook, Antony and Sheviock parish churches and a guest organist at other parish churches. He is also the leader of the local folk group ‘Silver and Gold’ which plays at barn dances and socials in the locality and farther a field.
Our Chairman is Sandie Pearce from Torpoint. Sandie is a long standing member of our alto section.
Bob Evans, one of our tenors, occupied the chair for the years 2005-06. Vivien Bennett was our chairman from 2000 to 2004 and remains a valued member of the choir being one of our solo sopranos.
Brian Pope was our founding Chairman serving for seven years. Brian is still our bass soloist.
If you would like to join us come along on any practice night for a very informal voice test with Paul and then join in the fun.
Further information is available from our Concert Manager John Tivnan by telephone on 01752-813610 or you can contact us by email at
chough at kessenyansingers.org.uk but with 'at' changed to @ and minus the spaces.