Who’s Who

Dan Soper – Director

Dan Soper became Director of Sanderstead Singers in 2020, having been the choir’s principal organist since 2002 and one of our original trebles in 1991.

After five years as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, Dan moved to Trinity School in Croydon. While there, he became Organ Scholar at Croydon Parish Church (now Croydon Minster). He spent his gap year as Organ Scholar at Chelmsford Cathedral under Peter Nardone, then studied music while Organ Scholar at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

After a year as Assistant Organist of Winchester College, he became Assistant Director of Music at Rochester Cathedral, where he directed the Girls’ Choir and accompanied most Cathedral services. While at Rochester, Dan started getting an itch to work in IT, and took responsibility for the Cathedral’s IT in 2008. He moved to Dartford Parish Church as Assistant Director of Music in order to expand his IT portfolio.

When this didn’t work out, Dan was delighted to be appointed as Assistant Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in 2011, where he enjoyed playing the newly refurbished Harrison & Harrison organ. He married Kat there in 2014 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 2015.

Dan’s IT itch returned in 2016, and this time he became a full-time developer. More than 10 years on, he is happily settled in software development, and enjoys playing the organ and conducting in his free time.

Fred Irvine – Founder and Choirmaster, 1991–2019

Fred Irvine founded Sanderstead Singers in 1991 and was its choirmaster for 28 years. A Chartered Accountant by profession, he had little formal musical training but benefited hugely from working with a number of fine choirmasters over many years.

As a chorister at St Cuthbert’s Church in Gateshead, he was first inspired by Fred Peacock, who went on to serve 50 years as Director of Music at St George’s, Jesmond, in Newcastle. He took over as organist and choirmaster at St Cuthbert’s in autumn 1963, with an all-male SATB choir. In 1972 he moved to the neighbouring church of St Helen’s, Low Fell. His replacement at St Cuthbert’s was a certain Margaret Howarth (later Irvine), but that’s another story.

He moved south to Surrey in 1978 and had a short spell at St Edmund’s, Riddlesdown, between 1979 and 1981. He then followed in the footsteps of another major musical influence, Rod Spencer, by becoming Director of Music at All Saints’, Sanderstead, in October 1986, where he benefited from the wise guidance of the incomparable Martin How. Continuing the cathedral choir camp tradition that Rod Spencer had established, he arranged camps at St Edmundsbury (1987), Worcester (1988), Norwich (1989) and Ely (1990).

He resigned from All Saints’ in 1990 but was called back to lead the newly formed Sanderstead Singers at Salisbury in August 1991: the choir’s first camp. Further invaluable experience came from singing with the RSCM Nicholson Singers under Michael Fleming, and with the RSCM Southern Cathedral Girls under Bob Soper.

His main musical pride and joy has been his long association with St Mary’s Church, Sanderstead, where he was Director of Music; over the years the choir of St Mary’s provided a large number of Sanderstead Singers’ members.

Admin team

Cath Tempest and Claire Weeks are both founding members of the choir. They take a lead on all choir administration, with assistance from the choir planning committee.