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Tony Tournoff A.Mus.LCM.; Hon.LCM. began his musical career as organist and choirmaster at the age of fifteen. His first diploma was acquired at the age of sixteen. After his National Service he became a student at King Alfred`s College, Winchester and received organ tuition from Alwyn Surplice who was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Winchester Cathedral. It was also at this time that Tony was invited to join the Cathedral Choir as an Alto Lay Clerk.
He taught at schools in North Hampshire and Guildford where he was Head of Music for over seventeen years. During this time he was invited to conduct many junior and senior school choirs. He was a founder member and conductor of two choral societies in Hampshire. Whilst in Guildford Tony was appointed to the local Teachers’ Centre as a music adviser. He was also the local representative for the Associated Board and the London College of Music. In 1978 he was awarded the Hon. LCM diploma for his services to music.
In 1987 Tony and his wife, Jill, moved to Cornwall when he was appointed Head of Music at Camelford. He soon became involved with choirs and was Director of Music for Wadebridge Male Voice Choir from October 1987 until the end of December 2003. From 1991 to 1995 he was Musical Director of Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir. He was appointed Director of Music to Wadebridge Choral Society in 2002 and in 2003 he became Musical Director of St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir. In 2010 Tony retired from both St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir and Wadebridge Choral Society. Unfortunately, in December 2011 it was decided that St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir would disband.
Until July 2014 Tony conducted a mixed ensemble known as the SAS (Seriously Aweful Sinfonia). It is a group mainly for adults who are learning to play an orchestral instrument and wish to play with people of a similar standard. However, anyone wishing to join is very welcome no matter what standard they are. It is very difficult finding music which is suitable for the group and Tony has arranged many pieces for them to play (a selection of these has been added to the site).
In 2014 Tony and his wife moved to Worthing, Sussex. They have joined the U3A group (over 500 members) and are also involved with the local Community choir. In February 2015 Tony formed an orchestra (with 6 members) under the auspices of the U3A. They call themselves “Inspired Instrumentalists”, and now have over 30 members with a wide variety of instruments from keyboards to ukuleles, recorders to tubas, bowed psaltery to guitar and a variety of percussion instruments. Their ability ranges from beginners to Grade 2. The ethos of the group is to have fun whilst at the same time learn to play music together. They meet on a Wednesday morning in St Botolph`s Church room at 10.00am. All of the music the group plays has been arranged by Tony and some can be found in the catalogue on fairwaysmusic.co.uk.
Tony (who is a counter-tenor) joined a local church choir which has a very good musical tradition. They are, in his view, akin to a Cathedral Choir. Under the direction of the organist and choirmaster they have sung services in many of the Cathedrals in the south. On occasions Tony deputises for services and regularly conducts the choir during services. Until 2018 he conducted a local choir "Community Spirit" which had over 50 members. They sang a variety of musical styles and had fun learning new pieces. They used to meet in the Salvation Hall in Worthing on a Monday morning at 10.30am.
Since his retirement from teaching, Tony has been able to concentrate on composing and arranging for choirs and orchestras as well as improving his IT skills. He is also a keen golfer and has joined Barn Hill golf club.
He taught at schools in North Hampshire and Guildford where he was Head of Music for over seventeen years. During this time he was invited to conduct many junior and senior school choirs. He was a founder member and conductor of two choral societies in Hampshire. Whilst in Guildford Tony was appointed to the local Teachers’ Centre as a music adviser. He was also the local representative for the Associated Board and the London College of Music. In 1978 he was awarded the Hon. LCM diploma for his services to music.
In 1987 Tony and his wife, Jill, moved to Cornwall when he was appointed Head of Music at Camelford. He soon became involved with choirs and was Director of Music for Wadebridge Male Voice Choir from October 1987 until the end of December 2003. From 1991 to 1995 he was Musical Director of Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir. He was appointed Director of Music to Wadebridge Choral Society in 2002 and in 2003 he became Musical Director of St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir. In 2010 Tony retired from both St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir and Wadebridge Choral Society. Unfortunately, in December 2011 it was decided that St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir would disband.
Until July 2014 Tony conducted a mixed ensemble known as the SAS (Seriously Aweful Sinfonia). It is a group mainly for adults who are learning to play an orchestral instrument and wish to play with people of a similar standard. However, anyone wishing to join is very welcome no matter what standard they are. It is very difficult finding music which is suitable for the group and Tony has arranged many pieces for them to play (a selection of these has been added to the site).
In 2014 Tony and his wife moved to Worthing, Sussex. They have joined the U3A group (over 500 members) and are also involved with the local Community choir. In February 2015 Tony formed an orchestra (with 6 members) under the auspices of the U3A. They call themselves “Inspired Instrumentalists”, and now have over 30 members with a wide variety of instruments from keyboards to ukuleles, recorders to tubas, bowed psaltery to guitar and a variety of percussion instruments. Their ability ranges from beginners to Grade 2. The ethos of the group is to have fun whilst at the same time learn to play music together. They meet on a Wednesday morning in St Botolph`s Church room at 10.00am. All of the music the group plays has been arranged by Tony and some can be found in the catalogue on fairwaysmusic.co.uk.
Tony (who is a counter-tenor) joined a local church choir which has a very good musical tradition. They are, in his view, akin to a Cathedral Choir. Under the direction of the organist and choirmaster they have sung services in many of the Cathedrals in the south. On occasions Tony deputises for services and regularly conducts the choir during services. Until 2018 he conducted a local choir "Community Spirit" which had over 50 members. They sang a variety of musical styles and had fun learning new pieces. They used to meet in the Salvation Hall in Worthing on a Monday morning at 10.30am.
Since his retirement from teaching, Tony has been able to concentrate on composing and arranging for choirs and orchestras as well as improving his IT skills. He is also a keen golfer and has joined Barn Hill golf club.