About us
We are a choir of around 40 men and women, aged from twenties to eighties.
We meet on Monday evenings from 7.15 to 9.15pm at St Mark's Church Hall, at the junction of Green Lane and Coldyhill Lane; Scarborough
YO12 6SD.
We sing as four parts – sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. Wielding his baton is our inspiring musical director Andrew Jenkins. At the keyboard is our accomplished accompanist Rebecca Wood.
We perform spring, summer and Christmas concerts for our friends, families and the wider community at venues in the Scarborough district.
Want to join us? Just come along to a rehearsal and give us a try.
To enquire, email staxtonsingers@gmail.com
Andrew Jenkins:“Andrew's conducting style combines technical precision with an ability to inspire singers of all abilities”
Our musical director
Andrew Jenkins is delighted to have returned as musical director from September 2025. Andrew's musical career began as a chorister at St Michael’s College, Tenbury, moving from there to become head chorister at Tewkesbury Abbey. His exceptional baritone voice led him to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, followed by positions as a lay clerk at both Llandaff and Lincoln Cathedrals and singing with the highly regarded Rodolfus Choir, directed by Ralph Allwood. Andrew has performed in recordings and live broadcasts on radio and television and all these formative experiences shaped his deep understanding of choral tradition and excellence.
He went on to work as director of music at various independent schools across the country. His passion for choral direction extended beyond the classroom, leading him to conduct notable ensembles such as Southwold Choral Society, Beccles Choral Society, Blythburgh Singers and, more recently, Staxton Singers as well as the chapel choirs in the various schools where he taught. His conducting style combines technical precision with an ability to inspire singers of all abilities.
Andrew stepped away from teaching a decade ago to establish the multi-award-winning Orchard Lodge and Wolds Restaurant in Flixton, just south of Scarborough, with his wife Lucinda. He is chair of the Filey Tourism and Trade Association. His journey demonstrates how musical training creates transferable skills that enrich all aspects of life.
Our assistant musical director
Richard Benson comes from a musical family and was lucky enough to learn the piano from aged five. At the same time he joined St Matthews Church choir in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, where he became head chorister after a few years.
Over time, Richard gained valuable experience in different genres, including amateur stage musicals and pantos at Kirk Theatre Pickering, where he was musical director for many shows between 1995 and 2014. He enjoys singing tenor, and has sung in various choirs and vocal ensembles including Sing and Tonic in Thornton le Dale.
Richard joined Staxton Singers around 2017 and is also a tenor in the prestigious Chapter House Choir, which is an affiliate choir to York Minster. He is excited to be drawing on a lifetime of musical experience in his new role as assistant musical director.
The Staxton Singers story
Our group formed in the village of Staxton, seven miles from Scarborough, in 1985 with the late Sue Hartley (then Parker) as musical director. We moved to Scarborough after a few years.
We’ve had a handful of musical directors over the decades – all of them dedicated and professional. We have performed at the Royal Albert Hall and abroad, raised thousands for charity and had a lot of fun. Most recently, we celebrated our 40th anniversary with a series of special summer concerts with our then-musical director Robyn Keech, who was with us from 2022 to 2025 and also presided over a 'Come and Sing Mamma Mia' day in spring 2024 in the Concert Hall at Scarborough Library..
Our committee
Chairman: Lee Barker
Vice-chair: Mary Grunwell
Secretary: vacancy
Treasurer: Debbie Green
Publicity: Yolanda Guthrie
Library: Mary Blackburn & Elizabeth David
Alto rep: Jane de Wend Fenton
Tenor/bass rep: William Robertson