Recently retired as Head of Music at High Storrs School Joan moved north in 2002, and has been involved in music education across the City of Sheffield and in North Derbyshire since relocating to this beautiful area. Involved in music from an early age she moved from Sunderland to London to study Singing and Piano, and after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music settled in Banstead, Surrey until moving north nearer family with her husband Roland. She has taught music locally at both King Ecgbert School and most recently after twelve happy years at  High Storrs.

Francis is a well-respected and talented music director and singer in the Sheffield area. He came to Sheffield in 1980, having begun his singing career in a church choir near Enfield. He continued to hone his skills at secondary school and university, becoming a much sought-after Baritone.

During the 40 years he has lived in Sheffield he has conducted St. James’s Norton church choir, Escafeld Choral, Cawthorne Choral Society, Sheffield Boys Choir, Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir and Dore Male Voice Choir.

Jonathan is a widely experienced accompanist and chamber musician who has performed in masterclasses and recitals. He studied Music at Sheffield University, gained a LTCL recital diploma from Trinity College London and is a dedicated music leader and teacher who has worked across many different settings. He is an accompanist for the David Clover Festival of Singing and directs the informal choir the Sheaf Valley Singers.

Lesley Garrett CBE is Britain’s best-known soprano, regularly appearing in opera, music theatre, concerts, on television and on CD. For more than 30 years she has enjoyed one of the most successful and idiosyncratic careers of any modern-day, classically trained soprano, winning both critical acclaim and the affection of many fans and music lovers through the breadth and diversity of her work. Internationally Lesley has performed throughout Europe, the USA, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea. The Choir is delighted that Lesley has agreed to be our President

Vivien studied music at the Royal Manchester/Royal Northern College of Music after previously studying medical sciences. She graduated with teaching and performing diplomas and a silver medal. Vivien has wide experience as a recitalist and soprano soloist with many choral societies. She has sung in choirs from the age of 7 and is a former member of the BBC Northern Singers. She is vocal coach for several choral societies.

Over the years as a peripatetic teacher of singing in Yorkshire, she has taught hundreds of young singers, one of the first being Lesley Garrett.

Her choirs have won many prizes in national and international competitions and have enjoyed tours to Italy, Germany, Ireland, Australia , Canada and USA, Finland and Estonia.