Andrew Cleary came into post as musical director of Portsmouth Festival Choir in September 2008. His day job is as Director of Music at Portsmouth Grammar School and he also conducts the Cathedral Girls’ Choir, which he founded in 2006. Andrew started his musical career as a chorister in York Minster and went on to the University of East Anglia and the Royal College of Music. He is a notable organist, having played at St Martin's in the Field, and is currently sub-organist at Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral. Energetic Andrew is also a keen runner and has taken part in the London and Portsmouth marathons.
Portsmouth Festival Choir has been part of Portsmouth’s music scene since 1971. This year, under Andrew’s baton, they will be performing Bach’s joyful Christmas Oratorio on 13th December. In March, to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of Haydn’s death, they will sing the acclaimed Creation. In June they will present "Serenade to Music", a concert marking the anniversary of the Mary Rose, with the Maritime Brass Ensemble.
