True Voices in Concert

A Cappella group TRUE VOICES performs at Christ Church Constantia on Sunday 3rd May at 3pm.

Founded by Grant McLachlan and Patrick Cordery in the year 2000, True Voices comprises ten experienced and passionate singers who often sing at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Newlands. Their concert repertoire includes Renaissance polyphony, sacred music, light hearted folk songs, madrigals and contemporary arrangements.

Tickets are R180 from Quicket, at the door or by calling Anne on 082 218 0100

The Singers

Janine Alexander (soprano)

Janine began singing in the St George’s Cathedral Choir in 1997, remaining a member of the Evensong and Chamber Choir until 2022. She also sang with the Audivi Vocal Ensemble from 2015 to 2022. Active in choir throughout school, she is also an accomplished flute and piano player. Janine currently sings with the St Michael's and All Angels Parish Choir, occasionally joins the Symphony Choir of Cape Town, and became a member of True Voices in 2023. An accountant by day at the City of Cape Town in her role as Head of Banking and External Loans in the Treasury Department, she balances her profession with a deep commitment to music.

Diane Behr (soprano)

Diane has been singing and playing instruments since pre-school in Cape Town. She is a member of the St Michael’s Catholic Church Choir and an occasional Evensong singer at St. George’s Cathedral. In her working day, Diane is operations director at Foord Unit Trusts.

Maryanne McLachlan (soprano)

Maryanne started her love of singing whilst at high school. Since then she has sung in many choirs including the University of Cape Town Choir, the St George’s Singers and Vox Cape Town, of which she is a founder member. With two members of the family being professional musicians, she is surrounded by music at home. Her career is in banking where she is currently a regional credit manager with a leading bank.

Debby van Zyl (soprano)

As a fourth-generation musician and dedicated choral singer, Debby has showcased her gift with renowned ensembles, including the Windhoek Youth Choir, Stellenbosch University Choir, St George's Singers, and St Michael's and All Angels Parish Choir, with multiple international tours under her belt. With extensive experience spanning all age groups in music education, Debby currently shares her passion as a piano teacher at Bishops College.

Bryony Poulter (alto)

Bryony was introduced to choral church music when, at the age of 6, she joined the choir of St Paul's Church, Rondebosch. Caught by a passion for singing, she has sung in choirs ever since, including 30 years in the St George's Singers and also in numerous small groups on an ad hoc basis. A mathematics teacher by profession, Bryony gave up teaching to raise her brood of four children. In her spare time, she started several small hobby-based home enterprises. The longest running (LEGO) business keeps her out of mischief, along with her foster 17 month old, who ensures that there is never a dull moment.

Jocelyn Taylor (alto)

Music has always been a pivotal part of Jos’ life – singing, playing, teaching, accompanying, training and conducting. She has degrees in Music, English and Linguistics. Jos’ passion for choral singing has seen her involvement in numerous vocal groups (both huge and more intimate) over the years. She recently retired from the formal educational space and is enjoying the time to travel, drink coffee and sing.

Levi Alexander (tenor)

Levi studied classical saxophone and conducting at UCT and holds a Master’s in Choral Conducting from Stellenbosch University. He has taught saxophone at various institutions, including the South African College of Music, and is an ad hoc performer with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. As a conductor, he has led a range of school, university, and amateur ensembles, and frequently adjudicates music competitions and eisteddfods. A former member of the St George’s Cathedral Choir, he currently sings with the St Michael's and All Angels Parish Choir, True Voices, and occasionally with Cape Consort and the Lutesong Consort. He is Head of Music at SACS High School and Director of Music for the Symphony Choir of Cape Town.

Mike Marchant (tenor)

Michael has been singing for as long as he can remember. Since moving to Cape Town, he has sung at the University of Cape Town (UCT) choir and was a founding member of VOX Cape Town, where he sang for five years. He has also contributed to various ad-hoc groups and other choirs, taking advantage of the regular tenor supply problems. When not singing, he heads the investigations unit at local non-profit organisation, Open Secrets.

Edmund Rodseth (baritone)

Ever since he first picked up a recorder in primary school, Edmund has been making music in some form or another. He has sung in several choral ensembles, including the University of Cape Town Choir, St Michael's Church Choir, and the Cape Town Youth Choir, with whom he participated in the Grand Prix of Choral Music in Graz, Austria. He has also participated in many choral performances in Cape Town on an ad hoc basis. In between singing, Edmund can be found in the Genetics Department at the University of Stellenbosch, where he is a postdoctoral research fellow.

Patrick Cordery (bass)

Patrick studied music at Exeter University and was awarded a choral scholarship at Exeter Cathedral, where he sang the daily services for three years. After graduating, he taught music in a secondary school in Reading, was a deputy Lay Clerk at Winchester and Southwark cathedrals and sang with the Chorus of the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Patrick arrived in Cape Town in 1997 and co-founded True Voices in 2000. He is currently Chaplain at Somerset College in Somerset West.

David Orr (organ)

David’s passion for choral music began in childhood at St Saviour’s Anglican Church, Claremont, where he started organ lessons while still in prep school. He later received the Charles Bryars Organ Scholarship and completed a Master’s degree in organ performance at Rhodes University in 2000. His career in education has been marked by a deep commitment to chapel and choral music, drawing excellence from singers of all abilities in the various schools he has worked in. As former Director of Music at St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, he worked extensively with volunteer adult choirs, together with the Cathedral Choristers, with similar results. His choral compositions, written for specific ensembles and occasions, include a setting of the Evening Canticles published by Shorterhouse Publishers (UK). David is currently Director of Music at Somerset College.