Why I Sing

Sophie Hawthorn

Our Musical Director

I have been singing ever since I can remember! I don’t know when I started, but I grew up singing in school choirs whenever I got the chance. In secondary school, I joined both the chamber choir after school and, once I turned 13, the county youth choir which I sang with for 11 years. This was led for many years by Julian Wilkins, who currently conducts the CBSO Youth Chorus and is the associate chorus director for the CBSO Chorus. He, along with another choral director called Roger Bond, inspired my love of singing through amazing and varied repertoire as well as cultivating a family-feel in their choirs. I cannot thank them enough for the start they gave me in my singing. I also took part in various school musicals throughout my secondary education, including some lead roles.

As I got older and grew more confident, I began to lead small groups of singers in rehearsals and, once I became a music teacher, whole school choirs. However, I missed singing for myself.

I joined Rolleston Choral Society when my family moved to Burton, and found both the quality and the people great. In my first rehearsal with the choir, I remember being astounded at how well the choir sang in their four part harmony.

I love singing because it always makes me happy, either in a choir or belting out tunes in the car. I love the joy, the rush of endorphins and the fun that it gives. I think everyone should have a try at singing in a choir and see how much fun it is! I can’t quite explain how good singing can make you feel - you’ll just have to try it for yourself!

Sophie

Suzanne Alliss

Our Chairperson

Why wouldn't I sing? I've found joy, peace, friendship and love.

 I don't remember a time when I didn't sing. I was surrounded by music and singing at home being the youngest of five children. I learnt recorder, violin and the organ but I never enjoyed them as much as singing. Singing was where I found true joy.

 Firstly, in the school choir, where we  sang for concerts/plays and even at The Royal Albert Hall for the school's choir concert. Later, finding out my husband also sang in the same concert!

 At the age of 10, I joined the church choir. As I got into my teens I nearly stopped, until a visiting organist came and introduced me to the Stanford in B flat Te Deum. That's when my love for choral singing truly started. I continued to sing in church choirs for many years, meeting my husband who came to my church as a Choir Director. He also introduced me to a fun, light hearted singing group; here I sang a mixture of genres and met lifelong friends. I still kept singing for church choirs, cathedral visits, concerts and weddings. 

The opportunity to sing in Karl Jenkins' wonderful Armed Man brought me into contact with RCS and I've been here ever since. Singing so many genres with lots of highlights. From Mozart's Requiem to Alexander l'Estrange Wassail, world premiers and even a lockdown recording.

 There's a song for every occasion, sad, happy, grumpy. Singing promotes self-esteem, engages the emotions, promotes social inclusion, supports social skill development, and enables people of different ages and abilities to come together successfully to create something special.

 I sing all the time. I drive my family crazy by turning every situation into a song or finding a song to fit every situation. 

 As Ella Fitzgerald said 'The only thing better than singing is more singing. '

Suzanne

Paul Taylor

Our Treasurer

One day, during a music lesson at school, we were singing parts from the Mikado when our music master, Geoffrey Tristram, walked along the rows of boys singling out a few of us. He finally announced that he wanted us to sing as choirboys in Christchurch Priory where he was organist and choirmaster. I very much enjoyed my time there, especially the weddings when we earned half-a-crown a time.

My voice suddenly broke when I had my tonsils out, aged just 13, and that was the end of my singing for nearly twenty years.  Upon moving to Rolleston back in 1986 I was persuaded to join Rolleston Choral Society. By this time my musical talents had diminished to near zero but I was encouraged by Eric Levitt, an excellent baritone, and slowly I managed to copy his sounds a few milliseconds later. Singing lessons with Coral Gould some years ago certainly helped. I have gained many friends through membership of Rolleston Choral Society. The social side is very strong and many members, including me, after choir practice on a Wednesday evening can usually be found in one of the local hostelries. I encourage anyone who enjoys singing to join us.

Paul

Louise Hamilton

Committee Member

I'm Louise and sing 1st soprano. I’m married to Chris and we have two daughters: Eva 8 and Lucy 5. When I’m not singing I work at Derby hospital on the neonatal intensive care unit.

I've been singing since I started school and was always in the school choir, I remember doing pyramid concerts at Burton town hall with the local junior and senior schools and singing my first solo Where is love’ when I was about 6. I was always involved with lots of music and drama at school, learning to play a few instruments: such as recorder, violin, clarinet, guitar to name a few but I was never very good at them so I carried on singing instead. I played a few leading roles in school plays such as Glinda the good witch in Wizard of Oz and the Pied Piper in Rats. It was when I was about 13 I started singing lessons with Anne Leatherland and took part in many of her concerts and joined her vocal folk group. I also took classical and musical theatre exams with her and got upto my grade 8. Once I started my nurse training, singing took a back step for a while but I missed it so much. I joined New Era musical theatre group run by Joyce Burton and started doing shows and musicals with her, I also joined the St Mary and Modwen church choir and more recently Friday Voices. I don’t remember the year I joined Rolleston Choral but it’s been a long time now (Editor Note: It was 2011). I was enticed by Rosemary and Stuart Taylor. My first concert was in my own church at St Mary and Modwen. I love singing with all the choir and they are like my extended family.

Louise

Brian Clarke

My firstexperience of choirs was at grammar school when our music teacher told our form that the special choir needed altos.  He chose a group of us despite our protestations that we were all sopranos.  His reply was that if he thought we were good enough to sing in his choir we could sing at any level.  I’ve always liked to sing and my love of music in my earlier years consisted of big bands, trad jazz, folk, blues and country.  One day my wife, Margaret, in a conversation with Patsy Starbuck, mentioned that I liked to sing, could keep a tune but was no good at reading music.  Patsy suggested I give it a go so you can blame her for my being imposed upon you! One thing she did say was that although there was not an audition the standard of the choir was very good and the members were welcoming and friendly.  She was right about that in spades.  Margaret told Patsy that I could be a tenor but I was more comfortable in a lower key; besides that, it was apparent from an early stage that it would be much more fun with the basses.  Although I sang choral music as a boy and can appreciate the end result, I begin every new choral piece with a feeling that I am not going to like it.  Thanks to the enthusiasm of Simon and the blessing of John Fletcher I gradually get more confident and the end result is inevitably brilliant.  Zimbe, The Armed Man, The Big Sunrise and of course, Mozart’s Requiem are but a few of the many successful performances of our choir.  Whilst we know that good performances are important, the spirit of friendship and support to achieve this is evident every time we meet.  The next few months are going to be tough but we’ll sing our way through them thanks to Simon and others who are providing the means to do so. 

Carol Wynn

Past Chairperson

I joined Rolleston Choral Society after seeing the advert in the Burton Mail asking for Sopranos. I think it was in about 2010. What made the difference and galvanised me into action was, that there was no audition as I am a bit nervous about singing on my own but I thought it was an opportunity not to be missed and I have never regretted it since.

I can read music as I use to play the Trumpet in the Staffordshire County Youth Orchestra but as you can tell that was a few years ago but I did retained that knowledge, which is surprising because if Simon asks us to sing without the music I can’t remember the first word!! 

My first concert was with Julian conducting as Simon was taking a sabbatical and we sang at Abbot Beyne school. I do remember having a glass of wine at the interval which I will never do again as during the second half of the programme the men were just singing on their own but ably assisted by myself, until I had a sharp dig in the ribs by the person by the side of me and of course my Daughter just happened to be videoing at the time!!! 

I have shared a lot of happy times with choir and made a lot of new and precious friends.  I have loved singing the Armed Man, The Big Sunrise and of course Zimbe. It is just so fantastic to sing together and such an uplifting experience which creates many happy memories. 

Apart from choir I have a gorgeous Granddaughter who keeps us busy, I play Crown Green bowls in the summer and love knitting and painting. 

Being Chairperson is hard work and I felt very responsible for all of you in our choir but it is very enjoyable when a plan comes together and I hope and pray that all of us stay safe at this time.

Carol 

Jo Ballington - Our President

Daffodils inspired me!

My earliest memories are singing to a field of daffodils in the field behind the house where I lived with my parents and brother. Someone must have heard me and suggested I join the church choir because I became a member of the Sunday School. Although only a small mission hut, there was an active social life and plays and concerts and church services were an important part of worship. Church anniversaries were always very well supported and I was often asked to sing solos or join with groups of singers.

School also played an important part of my musical journey with Singing Together being my favourite subject. I can still remember the words and tunes to many of the folksongs we learned. I was often asked to sing a solo part, probably because I sang louder and more enthusiastically than the other children.

In my teenage years I continued my musical journey and joined a youth group, again concerts and musical events were important.  I was invited to join the Derbyshire Youth Choir. This was a wonderful musical experience, with many very enjoyable musical weekends and Summer Schools spent in Buxton with like-minded young people. Oh, happy days!

I left the midlands in the early sixties and went to Training College in Devon. My musical journey continued and I joined the St Luke’s College Choir in Exeter. We performed a number of Choral works. My main recollection of my time in Devon was forming a madrigal group and singing a solo in a church service to welcome the Arch Bishop Of Canterbury. More happy days!

I returned to Derby in about 1963 when I married Ken and had two children. When the children were at school, I decided to continue my musical journey and began to have singing lessons with Connie Williams who was an inspirational teacher encouraging me to perform regularly at Derby Music Club. She also encouraged me to enter several music festivals, many successfully. I was asked also to sing a solo for the Arch Bishop of Canterbury when he came to Derby Cathedral.

About this time, I joined the Derbyshire Light Opera Company and continued to be an active and committed member until the Society ended after several years. Happy times along my musical journey. One memorable story.  I always wanted to have a lead role and was thrilled to be given the role of the Duchess in one operetta. The duchess appeared for a short time at the beginning of Act 1 and then, went on holiday, until the end of Act three. I spent the majority of the show in the bar or the dressing room, I decided it was more fun being in the back row of the chorus!

My final musical journey was joining Rolleston Choral Society. Where I still am. I have enjoyed many wonderful musical experiences, made good friends whose support I have valued over the years and long may it continue.

I do owe my musical journey to those daffodils. 

Jo

Gail Moorley

I was born into a musical family where singing was part of our daily life. Music filled our family's home; therefore I can't remember a time that wasn't influenced by melodies of both classical and popular compositions.

My Grandad was an alto and sang in the Byron Quartet, my dad sang solos at school as a boy soprano. Grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and my own brother and two sisters were able to enjoy making music together, and harmonies became second nature. Singing at Christmas was an amazing time!

At every opportunity during my younger years, I would sing in the Sunday School Anniversaries and chapel choir, encouraged also to sing solo once my confidence grew.

It was when my twin brothers voice broke that his singing teacher suggested that I take his place and receive classical training. This I did, supported by the Treble Cleff Girls Choir, for over a decade until my marriage in 1981.

A career in nursing had already begun and filled much of my life, followed by being a member of several choral/operatic societies, as time allowed, and in between becoming a mum to 4 children.

Later in my nursing career, singing was also introduced as an activity whilst I was Matron of a Christian Residential Care Home. I lead worship every morning with those residents who wished to take part. Their favourite hymns and choruses resounded bringing much needed joy and memories not yet lost to some of their short-term memory loss. Precious moments.

Although I enjoy a wide range of genres, my absolute joy is singing SATB harmonies with the diverse sounds that can give me goose-bumps when singing together. The sense of well-being is all part of why I sing. Singing with RCS since 2022 has been a welcome return for me to try choral singing again after several years away following the Covid outbreak.

This choir ' does what it says on the can'. A friendly, inclusive and welcoming group of people with a shared love of singing. I love it !

I am grateful for this very enjoyable creative time together.

Gail

Geoffrey Willis

Having had a peripatetic career, one of the constant elements of my life wherever I lived has been the enjoyment of singing with others. Starting at 11 years of age at Grammar school where I was a bridesmaid in a G&S production, I then went via scholarship to naval college where I joined the choir and sang in such august venues as St. Paul's Cathedral before setting off on my travels.

As I moved around the world,I sang in choirs such as the Greenville Community Chorus (NC USA),with wonderful Concerts in the Park, the Leichligen Mennachor in Germany, where I was the only English voice ever. The Dar Es Salam Choral Society,Tanzania where I was the only white bass, and back in UK, the English Concert Chorus, thanks to introduction by Nick Waller.

Singing is a wonderful way of meeting people, and without exception I have always found singers welcoming. It makes one realise that irrespective of tribe or culture, shared music improves human relationships wherever you are.

Geoffrey