Alan Moore, the conductor of Cantemus, was born in Northern Ireland and was involved in making music from an early age - singing in choirs, as a church organist and choirmaster (from the age of 14), and as principal bassoonist in a number of orchestras. He also directed 'Cantabile', a sort of Irish version of the von Trapp Family Singers made up of family and friends. He studied music for seven years with the late William West, one of the Province's best known musicians.
While studying Physics at Imperial College, London he conducted a chamber choir of which he was a founder member. This choir evolved into 'Exmoor Singers of London' under the baton of James Jarvis - at one time a member of Cantemus. In 1998 Exmoor Singers won their section of the BBC Sainsbury's Choir of the Year Competition, becoming the BBC Mixed Choir of the Year.
Alan was, for six years, Organist and Choirmaster of St. Paul's and St. Martin's Churches in Canterbury.
He is now retired from his "day job" as Headteacher of a large grammar school in the south east of England, but he still enjoys making music (mostly singing) with various groups at a high level including the Anton Bruckner Choir and the City of Canterbury Chamber Choir , occasionally conducting other groups, and has (as a retirement project) dug his bassoon out of storage and is practising hard to regain his old skills! He now enjoys playing the bassoon in various orchestras and ensembles, singing more than ever, and - lurking in his study - arranging music for wind quintet and other ensembles. Amazingly some of the groups he plays with claim to like his arrangements, so on this website he has made them available for all. I would be delighted to know if you have used them... info@cantemus.org.uk