David Martyn Jones
David Martyn Jones (born 1964, in Pontypool) is a Welsh conductor, composer/arranger and pianist.
Jones was educated at London College of Music (where he studied piano with Richard Deering, organ with Margaret Phillips and conducting), and University College of Wales Aberystwyth. Further studies included piano with the late Geoffrey Buckley and voice with Jeanette Massocchi.
Jones was appointed accompanist of Newport Philharmonic Choir in 1988 at its founding. He has accompanied the choir on three successful overseas tours and played the piano part in Mozart's concert aria "Chio in Scordi di te" in the Waldorfshalle in Heidenheim, Germany. Martyn has also accompanied many well known singers including Hilary Summers, Wynne Evans, Joanne Thomas and others. He has written many original pieces and many arrangements for the choir. Martyn was appointed Deputy Musical Director of Newport Philharmonic Choir is September 2008. Martyn became full-time accompanist of Cardiff Philharmonic Choir (Côr Ffilharmonic Caerdydd) in July 2008 and works with the well-known Welsh musician, Alun Guy.
Martyn was accompanist for the National Eisteddfod of Wales Eisteddfod Choir (Cor Eisteddfod) for Newport in 1988 and 2004, for Cardiff in 2008 and for Ebbw Vale in 2010. He was also Official Organist for the festival in 2004 and 2010.
From 1996 to 2005 Martyn was Musical Director of Christchurch Music Society and conducted 14 full scale productions for them. In 2000 he became Musical Director of "We Are What We Are" (WAWWA) Musical Theatre Company a post he held for two years and for whom he arranged and conducted two major theatrical revues and many smaller concerts. During this period he also mentored Vicci Bryant(née Smith) who succeeded him as Musical Director of WAWWA and also worked with Jon Williams, a member of "Tenors of Rock". He was also Musical Director of the concert group "Judy and Friends" with which he has helped raise thousands of pounds for charity.
Martyn held the post of assistant conductor of Torfaen Choral Society from 2001 until the choir disbanded in 2013, and has conducted the choir in performances of Schubert's Mass in G, Arwel Hughes's Gweddi, Stainer's Crucifixion, selections from Brahms' Liebeslieder, Vivaldi's Magnificat, Mozart's Regina Coeli and Handel's Messiah. He has also assisted in the preparation of the choir for performances of Charpentier's Te Deum, The Creation, Missa Caellensis and The Seasons by Haydn, Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez, Fauré Requiem, Puccini's Messe di Gloria, Mozart's Regina Coeli, Weber's Stabat Mater, and John Rutter's Requiem and Mass for the Children. In addition he has conducted many smaller works with the choir including the world première of his own "Ding Dong Merrily on High" a challenging new setting of the famous Christmas carol for SATB a cappella.
Martyn is Director of Music at St Michael's Church, Llantarnam, Organist at Capel Ebeneser, Newport. He teaches piano and theory of music. He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Cecelia(KGCStC) in 2011 and was also awarded the Archbishop of Wales Certificate of Merit in Church Music in the same year.
Personal life
Martyn is married to Sian Jones and they live just outside Newport in South Wales.
List of works
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External links
- Newport Philharmonic Choir (http://www.nptphil.org.uk)
- David Martyn Jones GLCM, LLCM(TD), ALCM, Dip.Lit. Wales (http://nptphil.org.uk/dmj.htm)
- Torfaen Choral Society (http://torfaenchoral.free.fr)