Who We Are

Jennie grew up in the market town of Thirsk in North Yorkshire and at an early age became involved in local music learning to play the oboe, piano and sing. The oboe became Jennie's first instrument; she studied a music honours degree at Birmingham Conservatoire followed by a post graduate diploma at the Royal College of Music, during which time she performed under Sir Roger Norrington and sang with the Birmingham Symphony Chorus in Vienna under Sir Simon Rattle.

Directing choral and instrumental ensembles and playing oboe is a significant part of Jennie's musical life.

She has directed numerous musical groups during her time as a music teacher and has been the Musical Director of various school productions. She also plays 1st oboe with the Surrey Mozart Players who perform five concerts a year in and around Surrey. Jennie is the Musical Director of The Pirbright Singers who have performed large choral works such as Mozart's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria and Puccini's Messa Di Gloria under her baton. In 2013, she was approached to direct 'The Accidentals' and together they have grown into a hugely successful amateur ensemble.

The Accidentals are lucky to have Jennie as their conductor. Hugely popular in the band, she brings a lively and infectious enthusiasm to rehearsals. She gets the very best out of players without ever compromising on musical accuracy. Jennie has a wicked, somewhat northern sense of humour, and is never shy about explaining her directions with jazz hands and high kicks where appropriate!

Tom Hollister began his musical career at the age of six, becoming a Chorister at Chichester Cathedral. After two years attending the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, Tom was awarded a place to study for a Bachelors Degree in Percussion and Drums at the Royal College of Music studying with Alex Neal, Ralph Salmins and Hugh Wilkinson. In his last year of study Tom was chosen to be part of the English National Opera 'sit-in' scheme. Commitments at the Royal College of Music included working with conductors such as Vladimir Jurowski, Bernard Haitink and Nicholas Collon. Tom performed his own composition as part of the Gala Concert at Buckingham Palace, and has toured with the marimba soloist She-e Wu with the RCM percussion quartet PERC'M.

Tom has begun to forge a successful career as a freelance musician in the UK, performing regularly with many orchestras and bands across the UK including Motown The Musical in the West End. Tom regularly performs with Box 9 Drumline and is currently the percussionist for Siglo de Oro as part of their Wigmore Hall residency.

Tom's commercial work includes large arena performances for the BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards, Strictly Come Dancing, Six Nations Rugby - Twickenham, NFL/Champions League - Wembley and Tottenham as well as session work for CD releases. This has most recently included the latest Siglo de Oro album 'Christmas in Puebla' and a Diana Ross single recorded at Air Studios. Alongside his performance career, Tom is an enthusiastic and committed educator. Tom currently holds teaching posts at Cranleigh School and Newton Prep School and is the percussion mentor for Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra. During his time off Tom enjoys to run, cycle and attempt to play cricket

Sue Rees is the organiser and founder of the band and rehearsals are held at her house in Godalming. Originally an alto sax player she changed to the bass after the band's regular bass player moved to the west country. Although not a string player Sue decided she would try the instrument herself and devised a slightly unorthodox method of fingering which enbables her to get by (after a fashion) on the bass-line ... Her real talents however lie in finding cheap wine for the all important apres-practice sessions! She is a relentless recruiter and the first point of contact for new members. She prides herself on success in persuading people to do things they would not ordinarily do - such as wearing pink ties, operating alarm clocks and shouting out loud refrains in numbers such as 'Lets Twist Again!'