People

Musical Director Sara Kemsley was born in Kent. She trained as a flute player and pianist at the elite Junior Music School and became principal flute of the Kent County Youth Orchestra. A graduate of York University, she majored in performance and composition under Bernard Rands, David Blake and John Paynter. She went into school music teaching in West London but continued to perform in professional and semi-professional orchestras and chamber groups, including several tours with Pimlico Opera.  She has always sung with good small choirs, including the well-regarded Cantate Choir, which was named Top Kent Choir in March 2014. Now retired, she is returning to playing, arranging and composing. "I really enjoy working with Kemsing Singers.  We work hard but have a great deal of fun in rehearsals too."

Peter Young studied music at Edinburgh University, where his teachers included William Mathias and Kenneth Leighton. In 1972 he was appointed jointly to the Music Department of Sevenoaks School and to the post of organist and choir director at St. Nicholas, Sevenoaks. For most of his 36 years at Sevenoaks School he served as Assistant Director of Music. Retiring from the school in 2008 he has continued in post at St. Nicholas, celebrating in September 2022 fifty years as organist and choir director. His musical activities include some private teaching, an ongoing research project, conducting, composing and arranging: the lockdown period sparked a remarkable spate of new pieces. Apart from his musical pursuits he enjoys cooking, reading, old maps, holidays, and being a grandfather.