Valerie is a second soprano, who is also responsible for much of the concert advertising and our social media presence.
The soundtracks of my childhood were Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks (or “musical fireworks” as we called it) and the 1812 overture, which my father loved to play at a considerable volume. At secondary school, our inspirational music teacher, Mrs Marsden (“Maggie”), directed a large girls’ choir, singing songs and short pieces from memory in 2-3 parts, and taking part in competitions such as the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. I learnt so much from her about life as well as singing and music – very much the mark of a great teacher.
When I went to university, I joined a non-auditioned choir, directed by a college organ scholar (an undergraduate student!) and had my first taste of oratorio. In my first term, performing the Baal choruses from Mendelssohn’s Elijah at breakneck speed had me hooked on choral music for life! I’ve sung with large choral societies ever since – I’m currently a member of Nottingham Harmonic Choir – and continue to get a thrill from singing beautiful music with a large group of other people, and from learning to sing some really difficult repertoire (recently Howell’s Hymnus Paradisi, and Rutti’s Requiem).
I joined Viva La Musica in 2022 and haven’t looked back. It has opened my eyes (and ears) to wonderful new repertoire I had not previously had opportunity to sing, and to the joys and challenges of singing in a relatively small group. I find singing to be a completely immersive experience, one that stretches my brain to read, learn and sing tricky harmonies and rhythms and that taps into my creative and empathetic sides in order to create an engaging live musical performance. The fact that it’s so different from my day-job (as a professor of engineering) is part of the appeal!
When I went to university, I joined a non-auditioned choir, directed by a college organ scholar (an undergraduate student!) and had my first taste of oratorio. In my first term, performing the Baal choruses from Mendelssohn’s Elijah at breakneck speed had me hooked on choral music for life! I’ve sung with large choral societies ever since – I’m currently a member of Nottingham Harmonic Choir – and continue to get a thrill from singing beautiful music with a large group of other people, and from learning to sing some really difficult repertoire (recently Howell’s Hymnus Paradisi, and Rutti’s Requiem).
I joined Viva La Musica in 2022 and haven’t looked back. It has opened my eyes (and ears) to wonderful new repertoire I had not previously had opportunity to sing, and to the joys and challenges of singing in a relatively small group. I find singing to be a completely immersive experience, one that stretches my brain to read, learn and sing tricky harmonies and rhythms and that taps into my creative and empathetic sides in order to create an engaging live musical performance. The fact that it’s so different from my day-job (as a professor of engineering) is part of the appeal!