George Haynes
George Haynes leads a varied career as a countertenor, teacher, accompanist, conductor and composer. He is delighted to be entering the role of Music Director with The Chantry Singers of Guildford from September 2026, and plans to do an exciting variety of repertoire in different styles with them over the coming years. George is a freelance singer performing regularly in a number of cathedrals and churches in London and the South, and was until recently a Lay Vicar in the choir of Chichester Cathedral, having spent a number of years as a Lay Clerk at Peterborough Cathedral. He is also the founder-director of a professional vocal consort, South Downs Soloists, who perform an annual concert in the Festival of Chichester each year. George is a teacher and accompanist for The Prebendal School and the accompanist for Fernhurst Choral Society. He has also been the Musical Director of Cantemus, based in Havant. During his time in Peterborough, George was Assistant Director of Chapel Music at The Peterborough School and Musical Director of St. Peter’s Singers. A music graduate of the University of York, he has also been a Choral Scholar in the choirs of York Minster and Wells Cathedral.
George has begun to undertake vocal studies with Ben Johnson, having studied for a number of years with the renowned teacher Robert Rice. He received a strong musical education as a chorister and Organ Scholar at All Saints’ Church in Northampton. As a composer, George has written music for the choirs of York Minster, Peterborough Cathedral and Chichester Cathedral, and was winner of the Eton Choral Course Composition Competition in 2013, which included a broadcast of his piece on BBC Radio 3.
