Martin Binks was born in Knaresborough and educated at Rutherford Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne and at Taunton’s school, Southampton.  He read for the Honours Degree of B.Mus. at the University of Birmingham and followed this with a further year at University College, Cardiff.  It was whilst at Birmingham that he began conducting, organising his own concerts with the University Orchestra.  He studied conducting with Sir Charles Groves and Louis Frémaux whilst they were the Conductors of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

In September 1970 Martin became conductor of the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and has conducted nearly 250 concerts with the Orchestra.  During his time as conductor the repertoire has been varied, from the early eighteenth century to the present day.  Perhaps particularly noticeable has been the inclusion in the programmes of much French music, with nearly all of the orchestral music of Berlioz being performed.

As Artistic Director and Conductor of West Riding Opera, he has conducted over 240 performances of 40 operas in Leeds Civic Theatre and the Carriageworks Theatre. 

He is a guest conductor of the Oslo Conservatoire Orchestra and of York Opera.

In recognition of his services to French music with the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and West Riding Opera, the French Government appointed him Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1993.  He received the insignia from the French Ambassador in May 1994.

Martin has been conductor of KCS since 1999, and has conducted performances of major works by Purcell, Bach, Handel, Charpentier, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Berlioz, Fauré and Orff with the Society.

Beryl Pankhurst is the regular accompanist for Knaresborough Choral Society.  She was born and educated in Liverpool.  After a brief career in banking she went to the Royal Manchester College of Music (now the RNCM), where she studied piano, organ, singing and accompaniment, graduating from there with distinction and achieving the Recital Endorsement and the Pinson prize for Bach playing.  She subsequently took up a teaching post at Harrogate Ladies’ College where she taught piano for many years and in other schools and colleges in the area and continues to teach privately.  Her main passion is accompanying and she is currently accompanist for Knaresborough Choral Society and Harrogate Gilbert and Sullivan Society.  In addition for more than thirty years she has been the official accompanist for Harrogate Choral Society.  As a soloist and accompanist, Beryl is kept extremely busy and has had the honour of playing for a number of distinguished singers and instrumentalists.  She is in much demand for examinations, festivals, lieder recitals, masterclasses and courses and works frequently with members of Opera North.  From time to time she also gives piano duet recitals with a regular partner.