West Norfolk Singers at Long Sutton May 2014

There have been many musical directors and accompanists over the years and for a dozen or so years,up until May 2018, Nigel Wickens was our Musical Director and William Moss has been our accompanist. With Nigel retiring, we had to seek out a new Musical Director and were recommended Roger Dear who lives in Heacham. He took us through our Autumn 2018 series of Concerts until Jean Hornbuckle arrived to take over from the Spring 2019 Concerts. Our Musical Director - Jean Hornbuckle Jean studied at the Royal Academy of Music and later at Reading University, gaining an M Mus degree. She worked with Scottish Opera, English National Opera and companies in France and Holland, as well as touring abroad with British groups. Roles performed include Azucena,(Il Trovatore,Verdi) Rossweisse (The Valkyrie, Wagner)Anna (Mary Stuart, Donizetti)Mamma Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana, Mascagni)Hata(The Bartered Bride. Smetana), Gilbert and Sullivan and other assorted mezzo/contralto characters from various operas. She also performed in concert and has sung the contralto solos in most of the well-known oratorios. She has broadcast and recorded both as a soloist and with the BBC Singers and other professional groups. Jean conducted two choirs and was a Singing Tutor at the City Literary Institute in London. Other work included running a group of players at Hatfield House performing Tudor evenings during which she either played Queen Elizabeth I or a court musician. She was involved in the Living History project for school children also at Hatfield. Our Accompanist - Currently shared between Adrian Flowers and Alison Hoyle, Organist and Assistant Organist at St Mary's Church, Heacham WILLIAM MOSS Sadly out previous Accompanist, William Moss, left the Singers in September 2022 after many years in the post. NIGEL WICKENS At the end of 2022 we were very sorry to hear that former Musical Director, Nigel Wickens passed away on Thursday, 1st December. He will be sorely missed and we were so grateful to have him as our Musical Director up until just a few years ago. We are hoping to attend his Memorial Service to be held at Stanhoe Church on Saturday, 18th February 2023. R I P

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