Our musical director and conductor, Reginald Searle, graduated from the Royal School of Music in 1963. He taught in two London schools and worked part time in the music profession, singing a range of music from opera to television variety shows. He then moved to Suffolk and taught for five years before taking up the post Director of Music at Longsands School, St Neots. He later switched to teaching mathematics and became a Housemaster at the school, as well as returning to solo singing.

Reg founded Longsands Choral Society in 1971, and it soon became independent under its present name, St Neots Choral Society. St Neots Sinfonia followed in 1989, and is now well over three decades old.

Reg is now retired, allowing him to concentrate on writing and arranging more music. St Neots Sinfonia has premiered several of his works.

Recognition and awards

In September 2024 Reg was shortlisted for the Lady Hilary Groves Prize in the 2024 Making Music Awards. This prestigious award recognises individuals from a Making Music member group who have made an outstanding contribution to music in their community. Although he did not win, his nomination recognises his huge contribution to music-making in the St Neots area over the past 50 years. Here is the video that supported his nomination.