Our Accompanist
Mike Lester
Michael Lester attended Scarborough High School for Boys, Trinity College of Music, and London University. His teachers included Martindale Sidwell, the organist of Hampstead Parish Church and St. Clement Dane's, and Dr. Stanley Sadie who later became the editor of Grove's Dictionary of Music.
After graduating in school music, and gaining the diploma of Associate of the Royal College of Organists, he began his teaching career in Whitby, then moved to Scarborough seven years later, and eventually became Head of Music at the newly-formed Raincliffe Comprehensive School.
During a very busy and varied period in the 1970s and 80s he was accompanist or musical director for all the amateur operatic societies around Scarborough, Pickering, and Malton, and has had two periods as conductor of Scarborough Choral Society. After taking early retirement from Raincliffe School, he taught piano at Hunmanby Hall School for five years, and now has a small private teaching practice and plays the church organ.
Michael’s interest in music spans a wide spectrum from the music of Delius to playing the Wurlitzer at Blackpool Tower. During his time at Hunmanby Hall School, Michael was a member of Staxton Singers in its very early days.
In 2010 Mike succeeded Chris Wright as accompanist to Staxton Singers.