Pictured here during a rehearsal with the Ashington & District Male Voice Choir in March 2017, Derek Brett is an accomplished musician and cultural manager with a rich and varied career in the arts.

After graduating from the London College of Music and the University of Ulster, Derek kicked off his musical journey as a trombonist and pianist in HM Band of the Irish Guards.

His passion for music education then led him to teach in special schools across both London and the North East. Following this, he earned an MA in Cultural Management from the University of Northumbria, which paved the way for a dynamic spell in venue management across the theatre and cinema sectors.

A versatile and seasoned accompanist, Derek is well-known across the region's musical community. Alongside his work with ADMVC, he has brought his talents to:

• Newcastle Musical Theatre Company
• West End Operatic Society
• Whitley Bay Operatic Society
• Countless instrumental examinations, school productions, and concerts

Declan Flannery

Meet Declan, a very good friend of the choir who supports our Music Team occasionally.

Based in his home city of Newcastle upon Tyne, Declan Flannery is a versatile classical pianist, conductor, and composer.

He honed his craft under renowned mentors, studying classical piano with David Owen Norris, Samantha Carrasco, and Lesley Young; conducting with Robin Browning; and composition with Ben Oliver and Michael Finnissy. 

A remarkably prolific performer, Declan gives well over a hundred concerts a year, headlining local recitals across the North East alongside national and international tours. Recognised early in his education as an exceptional talent, he was selected during his first year of music college to perform Mozart’s D Major Piano Concerto (after J. C. Bach) with the Hartley Loop Orchestra.

Declan has collaborated with the Ashington & District Male Voice Choir since early 2024 and looks forward to many more years of shared music-making. Alongside this role, he serves as the Musical Director for The Gibside Singers and holds resident accompanist positions with the North East Stage and Screen Orchestra and Choir and the Wallsend Community Choir.

As an experienced theatre musical director, his career has taken him to prestigious stages nationwide, including Newcastle's Theatre Royal and the West End of London.