Who’s Who

Choral conductor Penelope Jane Homer joins Carshalton Choral Society in January 2023. Penny is a conductor, soprano and teacher based in London. She graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2003, where she was a choral scholar at St Barnabas Cathedral.

As well as conducting Carshalton Choral Society, Penelope is the Musical Director of London Humanist Choir. She is also an Assistant Leader at London Youth Choir and leads the City Lit Choir on Thursday evenings, where she also teaches solo singing classes.

Recent conducting engagements include Musical Director of Reigate and Redhill Choral Society, Sussex A Cappella, a ladies barbershop group, Winchmore Singers and Belsize Square Synagogue Youth Choir. She has also been Apprentice Musical Director at Enfield Choral Society, Junior Conducing Fellow at Zemel Choir and Musical Director of Barts and the London Musical Society Choir. In addition to conducting and teaching, she sings professionally as both a chorister and as a soloist.

Anthony Merryweather has been the accompanist of the Society since May 2023. He began his musical career at the age of six, when he won a choral scholarship to Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Seven years later he gained a music scholarship to Shrewsbury School. In 1994 he graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BA(Hons) in music. In 2001 he was awarded an Associateship Diploma  (ARCO) of the Royal College of Organists.

Since 1997 he has pursued a successful career as teacher or director of music in several leading schools, including a stint in the Baobab College in Zambia. Since January 2022 he has been Director of Music at the prestigious City of London Freemen’s School, in Ashtead Park, Surrey

Anthony also finds time to be the accompanist of many local choral societies and musical festivals including the Bookham Choral Society, the South London Military Wives Choir and the Godalming Festival, to name but a few. He is also a composer, with an early work, a musical called Troy, featuring on ITV News.