About Us - Conductor and Accompanist
Alastair's love of music began at the Methodist College Belfast where he was taught violin. On leaving school,
he joined a small orchestra, where one of the other members asked him to sing in Downe Operatic Society in a forthcoming performance of
"The Mikado", (Chorus members where required). Alastair then developed a love for choral music and studied as a bass singer under
James Shaw, a very well known performer at that time. Further training was undertaken at The Belfast School of Music, where Alastair
passed his Grade 8 Theory examination of the Royal schools of Music. In 1980 an opportunity arose to conduct the Harlandic Male Voice Choir,
which Alastair successfully directed for a period of 10 years, performing with the BBC - "Friday Night is Music Night", with John Anderson
at Ulster TV, together with Harry Secombe, Moira Anderson, Joseph Locke and Stuart Burrows, to name a few. More recently Alastair has
reverted to his first love i.e. the violin, and is honoured to have been appointed as conductor of the Queens Island Victoria Male Choir.
Tom Whyte is Director of Music at First Lisburn Presbyterian Church. For a long number of years Tom was musical director for the
Lambeg Players and also for the Belfast & Lisburn District Scout and Guide Gang Shows in the Grand Opera House, Belfast and in
various venues in Lisburn. He has been Organist & Choirmaster in St Columba’s Presbyterian & Methodist, Old Warren; All Souls’
Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, Elmwood Ave., Belfast and East Belfast Mission. He has been a member of Blaris Accordion Band and
now plays trombone in Garvey Silver Band of which he is chairman. He is also a keen member of Queen’s Island Victoria Male Choir.
Over the last few years Tom has concentrated his efforts in producing concerts in aid of various charities in the Island Hall,
Lisburn and other venues such as The Bangor Corporate and Conference Centre.
Cathy graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with an Honours Degree in Music. She plays piano, cello and has been known to sing! She was a member of the University Choir, Chamber Choir and Orchestra. She has played with the Studio Symphony Orchestra.
After gaining her teaching qualification, Cathy taught GCSE "A" and "O" level music, trained the senior choir and orchestra, and accompanied various shows both inside and outside school.
Cathy now teaches privately.
