about us

INTRODUCING

society president

Lord Sackville
Lord SackvillePresident
Lord Sackville, Robert Sackville-West, became our President in 2005, following the death of his uncle, Lord Sackville, Lionel Bertrand Sackville-West, the 6th Baron Sackville who had been our President since the 1950s.

MEET OUR

chairman and committee

The choir is run by a committee of up to 12 members (and more can be accommodated) all of whom share the responsibilities by which the Society runs. We meet around 4 times a year (sometimes more depending on specific circumstances) along with an Sunday afternoon session at which our Music Director joins us and we look at music programming for the next couple of years.

John Larner
John LarnerChairman
Polly Lockwood
Polly LockwoodVice-Chairman
Deputises for Chairman as required
Kathy Wong
Kathy WongTreasurer
Financial control, payments, budgeting and accounting. Subscription collection. Charity Commission admin
Mary Bonner
Mary BonnerSecretary
Committee administration, minutes etc. Rehearsal admin. Advertiser Liaison
Polly Lockwood
Polly LockwoodMembership Secretary
New Member admin. Member record maintenance. Member communications
Brian Sherriff
Brian SherriffLibrarian
Sourcing hired music, distribution to members and safe return to suppliers
Pauline Davies
Pauline DaviesFriends Secretary
Communication and administration of the Friends of Sevenoaks Philharmonic scheme
Patrick Pascall
Patrick PascallCommittee Member
Venue contracts and legal issues
Sandra Tooke
Sandra TookeCommittee Member
Venue administration
Caroline Wood
Caroline WoodCommittee Member
Fundraising and Publicity
Jane Aebi
Jane AebiCommittee Member
Concert Day Manager

MEET OUR

music director and accompanist

Robyn Sevastos
Music Director

Robyn Sevastos has conducted the Choir since 2001, becoming Music Director in 2002. In addition to Sevenoaks Philharmonic Society she is currently music director of London Opera Productions, Kentish Opera, the Llantilio Crossenny Festival, Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society and Bromley Philharmonic Choir.

Robyn graduated from Melbourne University with a BMus, with First Class Honours in Performance. She moved to England to continue her studies, obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Piano Accompaniment at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and a Performance Diploma (ARCM) from the Royal College of Music. She went on to perform extensively as a piano soloist and to coach and accompany a wide range of singers and instrumentalists both in the UK and abroad.

Robyn has conducted a large and diverse selection of choral and operatic works. Her extensive operatic repertoire includes operas by Bizet, Donizetti, Humperdinck, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Strauss, Sullivan and Verdi. She has also conducted many of the major choral works and countless other smaller gems. Some highlights include performances of Verdi’s Requiem, Carmina Burana at the Fairfield Halls and Bach’s St Matthew Passion at St Clement Danes church on The Strand in London. Robyn’s orchestral programmes have featured internationally renowned artists and she has performed at many of the leading London concert venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican and the O2 Arena. She has also performed at Kensington Palace and at Sandringham for HRH The Prince of Wales.

Tracey Renwick
Accompanist

Tracey Renwick studied music at Goldsmiths College, London University and after graduating worked as a piano teacher and freelance ballet pianist in London. For the past 25 years she has worked for the Royal Ballet School. Tracey plays the piano in the Brook Piano Trio and has accompanied many different instrumentalists and singers. She accompanies Sevenoaks Philharmonic Choir and Bromley Philharmonic Choir, and also plays the organ at St Botolph’s Church, Chevening.

She was brought up in Carlisle and was involved with music from the start, playing violin with Cumbria Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Music Theatre. Working for the Royal Ballet School has involved much performing both at home in the Holland Park Theatre and in the Royal Opera House, and abroad in Japan, Germany and Salt Lake City.

In addition to playing violin and continuo for Sevenoaks Philharmonic Orchestra she plays the violin in Bromley Symphony Orchestra and Bromley Symphony Players and has also been lucky enough to perform piano concertos with both.