SANDTON
CHOIR
Who we are
Music Director Duncan Hyam
Duncan Hyam studied music at the Rhodesian College of Music in Harare, then Salisbury, a branch of the Royal College which is based in London; and was a soloist with the St Georges College Choir from age 11. He started conducting at the age of 17 while a student at the St John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria. For many years he conducted and played the organ in the Harare Cathedral and in several Catholic parishes including East London, on many occasions combining choirs to produce massed choirs for special occasions, SABC radio broadcast, Carols by Candlelight, etc. He has sung solo parts for cantata with organ including Elijah, Messiah, Crucifixion, etc. He came to Johannesburg in 1994 and, soon after, took over the Johannesburg Chamber Choir for a number of years and then the Jewish National Fund Ladies Choir which he still directs. He also conducts an 08:00 am church choir in Victory Park. He has composed Masses for congregation and choir, and has created numerous arrangements for choirs
Accompanist Felix Calaba
Felix has recently joined the choir and contribution to the choir has already been felt. As the choir’s concert accompanist or, as they are now known, collaborative pianist, he has his work cut out for him. Felix is enjoying his vital role as part of the Sandton Choir team.
Accompanist Gladys Esterhuizen
A choir can only be good at what it does if the background work is done and Gladys ably assists by helping out at rehearsals with getting the notes into everyone’s head. She worked for many years as a music teacher at St Peter’s School in Sunninghill and enjoys still making music.
Lead soprano Lindsay Nicholson
The sopranos are led by Lindsay Nicholson. Lindsay has sung in choirs since her school days and has the voice of an angel but in real life she is an angel too and her job in the nursing profession has led her to work at hospitals around Gauteng as a nurse and nursing instructress. She is now semi-retired and therefore has more time for her favourite hobby - singing.
Lead alto Sandra Kellerman
Sandra Kellerman is a cartoonist by day and a songstress by night so the creative side of her is always being expressed. Sandra comes from a family who appreciate music and from a young age, she and her family sang harmonies around the piano. Sandra helps ensure that the group always keep the alto harmonies flowing.
Lead tenor Roman Pietrasik
Roman Pietrasik who leads the tenors is of Polish origin. He has been with the choir for eight years and during this time has thoroughly enjoyed the impressive body of music the choir has covered. In his youth he formally studied music on a part time basis, with his main instrument being classical guitar. Although an engineer by profession, music has always been close to his heart and for him the discovery of the Sandton Choir was a blessing. Roman enjoys choir social aspects, spiritual enrichment and the relaxation.
Lead bass Adeji Ayodela-lyun
Deji Ayodele Iyun started singing in a choir at the age of 11 and become assistant organist at age 16 in Ogun State in the Western part of Nigeria. He later relocated to Lagos where he was appointed as cathedral organist and choirmaster in 1995, a position he held for 13 years before relocating to South Africa in 2008. He is currently the organist/keyboard player at Randburg Methodist Church. He also plays and teaches other musical instruments apart from organ, such as piano, clarinet, saxophone and marimba. He is a composer/arranger and has composed for large orchestra as well as individual instruments, both Western, African and contemporary music and movie and documentary music. Deji's singing voice has a tremendous range and he is able to hit the very low notes bringing a wonderful sound colour to the choir. He leads the bass section and, as assistant choir master, stands in for Duncan when necessary.