The musical management of the choir is in the capable hands of:

Musical Director

Jim Wrightson
Canadian by birth, Jim moved to the UK in 1975 following early studies at the University of Toronto. He spent six years at Cambridge University where he was Organ Scholar at Jesus College and undertook postgraduate research into English Renaissance Music, which earned him a Ph.D.
He moved to Liverpool in 1982 and has been very active in local musical life since that time. His published work includes editions of choral music by Tallis, Byrd and their contemporaries, and a performing edition of the Byrd 'Great Service' recorded by King's College Choir, Cambridge.
He was Musical Director of the Liverpool Oriel Singers (1985-91), accompanist of Birkenhead Choral Society (1991-2000) and has been Musical Director of Hoylake Choral Society since September 2000. He also has an occupation he sometimes ironically refers to as "part time" as Head of Information Services at Liverpool John Moores University.

Deputy Musical Director

Michael Hamm
Michael Hamm was born in West Kirby. He sang in Blackburn Cathedral Choir as a treble and was educated at St Paul's School, London. He studied conducting under Norman Del Mar and Robert Barclay Wilson at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he later became a Professor of Conducting.
Michael has conducted a wide range of orchestras and choirs in the UK and in Continental Europe. He has directed Opera and Musicals, some in the West End, and he has broadcast with various BBC orchestras. He had the honour of conducting before the Queen at the City of London Festival. Michael conducted the Finchley Choral Society for sixteen years before retiring from the London musical scene and returning to West Kirby.

Accompanist

Victoria Wells
Victoria was a pupil at West Kirby Girls’ Grammar School. She studied the piano with Heather Slade, gaining her ARCM at the age of 16. She went on to study with Rizard Bakst and gained a degree in music at Liverpool University. A frequent performer in North West music festivals, she received the award for best performance in the Crosby Festival. For about 5 years she played piano duets with the internationally famous Stephen Hough. Having previously taught at Liverpool University and Huyton College, she is now head of performance studies at Birkenhead Sixth Form College. Victoria has acted as accompanist for several local musical organisations including the Liverpool Philharmonic Choir. As Hoylake Choral Society’s rehearsal accompanist for the last seven years, she has taken part in our Carol concerts accompanying the choir and playing duets with Jim Wrightson. She played the Harmonium part in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle in 2005.