Andrew Sackett as Musical Director & Keys
Andrew Sackett has had a wide and varied musical career which has included genres from classical to jazz and musical theatre to rock and pop. He was born in Sheffield and at an early age had piano lessons from Fanny Waterman. After moving to Lichfield he took organ lessons at the Cathedral with Jonathan Rees-Williams. He entered the Royal Northern College of Music in 1982 and studied organ with Eric Chadwick, Gordon Stewart and Gillian Weir, and piano accompaniment with Jack Brymer’s life long accompanist, David Lloyd. Whilst at college in Manchester he was Organ Scholar at the Cathedral and in 1987 was appointed Assistant Organist at Carlisle Cathedral. During his time in Carlisle he conducted ‘Wigton Choral Society’ and was Chorus Master for ‘Cumbria Rural Choirs’ working alongside Sir Charles Groves and David Hill.
In 1989 Andrew moved to Tewkesbury Abbey where he directed the Choir of the Abbey School. As well as singing the weekday services in the Abbey, the choir made several CDs, broadcast on BBC Radio and TV and toured extensively throughout Europe and USA. He conducted the highly acclaimed Malvern Chamber Choir ‘Aldwyn Voices’ and was also very busy as a recitalist and accompanist.
After eleven years at Tewkesbury, Andrew decided to move into a rather different field of music and in September 2000 was appointed Musical Director for ‘Holland America Cruise Line’. During his time at sea he was Musical Director for several Grand Voyages as well as the 2008 Golden Anniversary 114 day World Cruise where he worked with a gamut of acts ranging from opera singers to the Osmonds!
Having visited every corner of the world, and after several thousand nautical miles, Andrew decided to return to ‘terra firma’. In September 2008 he spent a term at Westminster Abbey Choir School as Acting Director of Music where he was responsible for the choristers’ musical education. He is now in great demand as a freelance musical director, pianist, organist and repetiteur.
Andrew works extensively with City Music Services conducting ‘Freshfields Choir’, ‘Commerzbank Choir’, ‘Lexis Nexis Choir’ and ‘CMS Chorale’. He has been conductor for several of the CMS joint firms choirs events including ‘Carmina Burana’ and ‘Fauré Requiem’ at the Temple church, a Charity Gala Concert at Sadler’s Wells and a performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at St Luke’s Church Chelsea with the National Symphony Orchestra.
He is Musical Director for the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute show ‘Big Girls Don’t’ Cry’ and ‘Westcoast’ a celebration of the music of the Beach Boys, both of which are currently touring the UK. He is also Assistant Musical Director of South West Essex Choir and Assistant Director of Music at St Peter’s, Eaton Square.