Wantage Male Voice Choir, Oxfordshire.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Cathie Miserandino, B.Mus. (CNU,Va.), DPhil(Oxon)
Cathie studied musicology, voice and conducting at Christopher Newport University
(Virginia) where she graduated with a B.Mus. in 
music history. In August 2000, Cathie
earned her doctorate from the University of Oxford for her research on sixteenth-
Cathie is now concentrating on her music interests: playing and teaching viola da gamba and conducting.
Cathie has conducted children and adult church choirs in Spain, Arkansas and Upper
Heyford. 
She is a former deputy music director and deputy conductor of the Oxford
Welsh Male Voice Choir. By her own admission, Cathie has the best job in Oxfordshire:
Music Director of the Wantage Male Voice Choir.
In 2006, Cathie married Norman Sengelow, one of the second tenors in the choir.
Owen Wright, Baritone Section.
Owen grew up in Middlesex and started singing quite early on. He moved to Rugby
for an electrical engineering apprenticeship in 1951. Before long he was singing
in a church choir and later joined the choral society, and men’s choir. 
He continued
with these until he and his family moved to Hertfordshire in 1968, due to a change
of employer. Owen found a local choral society there which enabled him to sing in
a wide variety of choral works for about 26 years. During this time Frances, his
wife, and their children Helen and Graham were also extending their musical skills.
Owen retired in 1992 and he and his wife moved to Oxfordshire in 1995. The availability
of male voice groups here prompted him to have a change and he joined WMVC late that
year. He prefers to sing, baritone being his part, but has been known to conduct
the choir when there is a pressing need. He finds computer software a great help
in producing clear special arrangements of music for the choir.
ACCOMPANIST
Lorraine Chapman, BA(Hons) DipABRSM.
Lorraine started working with the choir in August 2008. 
Passionate about music,
she has a busy career, teaching piano, flute and recorder and preparing for her flute
performance diploma. She is also studying the Dalcroze method of teaching music
and is intending to embark upon an MA in music later in 2009. She is also a member
of a trio and a flute choir, enjoys playing music socially and feels privileged to
be an accompanist for the Wantage Male Voice Choir.
DEPUTY ACCOMPANIST
Judith Sawyer
Judith joined the choir in early 2008, following a cry for help in a coffee shop from an old acquaintance and member of the choir. A singer first and foremost, with years of choral background, she agreed to help in rehearsals.
Judith was born in Rugby and began singing with her grandmother in the chapel choir’s
alto section. She later won a scholarship to study singing (and the obligatory piano)
at Birmingham and moved onto the Royal College of Music, London, to complete her
performer’s course, singing professionally in Berlin and later in the UK, until marriage
and babies.
In 1987 Judith was a founder member of Opera Exchange, performing grand opera in
the Oxfordshire area. She later produced and musically directed several operas and
choral works. Passionate about music and song, Judith is thoroughly enjoying her
association with the grand bunch of stout-
