Mervyn Cousins

Mervyn Cousins was a pupil and Cathedral Chorister at the Minster School, Southwell, in Nottinghamshire and then read Music (BMus and MMus) at the Royal Holloway College, University of London, where he was Organ Scholar.  He was a prizewinner both at University and at the Royal College of Organists examinations.  

After teaching posts in London, and organ-playing appointments at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street and St James’, Sussex Gardens, Mervyn was appointed as Assistant Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in 1987, becoming Director of Music there in 1993.

Mervyn was Director of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral from 1997 until the summer of 2003, and was also Organist to the University of Liverpool during this time.  He was Music Director and then Chief Executive at the world-renowned Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod from September 2003 until this July.  He now combines additional examining and adjudicating work at home and abroad with choral direction and projects in schools.

Chris Mallinson

Chris Mallinson is the founder, Musical Director and driving force of the internationally ‘infamous’ Choros Amici. The son of a dance band pianist, he combines his musical background and drama training as Head of Performing Arts at The William Allitt School in Derbyshire, England.

Chris has trained new and experienced choral directors for Sing for Pleasure, the British Federation of Young Choirs and the British Association of Barbershop Singing.

Chris has adjudicated at prestigious choral festivals including ‘Choir of the Year’ and following the international successes of Choros Amici, has begun to venture further afield to adjudicate at festivals in Europe.

He is here in Llandudno after winning the overall competition with his ‘regular’ adult choirs (Friday Voices in 2009 and Choros Amici in 2010), perhaps in the hope that it will stop him bringing another one along to compete!