Who we are
Michael Healey
Musical Director
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Michael and his wife choir leader wife Susan have a musical partnership of forty years standing. For many years he was head of music at a local comprehensive school where Susan also taught. Since early retirement from teaching in 1997 Michael has worked on creating a number of original cantatas for schools for which he was also musical director and orchestral conductor. In addition he has pursued a parallel career as a freelance musician most recently as a solo saxophonist. thesaxplayer.co.uk
The Musicians
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Another great bonus for the choir is to be backed by a set of top-notch musicians. This has included Hugh Banton of Van Der Graaf Generator on keyboards and the sax playing of Michael Healey. Using Michael's arrangements we work with a band of five to six that varies according to the needs of each gig. Last year's "Last Ship" concert even featured two fiddlers and an accordion !
Shades of Blue
The SAS elite squad of the choir ! A small group of talented and experienced amateur singers some of whom performed for years under Susan Healey's leadership as part of vocal group Amicus. Their role can vary from supporting the main choir to performing solo pieces in their own right or adding another dimension to a choir arrangement.
Tina Watmough
Choir Secretary
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Communicating with and managing a choir of nearly 60 is no easy task. Tina looks after member registration, fee collection and generally keeps the choir up to date with what is happening and where. All secretaries are almost by definition "unsung heroes". Tina is also a choir member.
Contact Tina by email or call 07734 333525
Statham Junior Singers
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These enthusiastic young singers under the guidance of their teacher choir member Jane Rooney have provided an extra colour to the sound of the choir at several of our events.
Susan Healey
Choir Leader
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Susan has forty years of experience as an arranger and choir leader, firstly as a teacher until her early retirment in 1997. Since then she has worked with her husband on a number of original cantatas for schools as well as leading the highly acclaimed local sixteen voice choir Amicus for many years who appeared at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Since coming to Lymm Michael & Susan have made a huge contribution to the musical life of the village by participating in and leading any number of events oftenin collaboration with Alan Williams and singer/composer Helen Monks (their daughter). You can listen to some of Su's brilliant choral arrangements for previous choral groups by clicking here.
The Choir
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At any one time we number between 50 and 60 but around 100 people have now had experience of singing with the choir. There is no audition. If you think you can do it you can. You don't need to be able to read music. You can learn from CDs. One or two people have decided after one or two sessions that it is not for them. That's fine. We have had members of all ages and as in all choirs men are always especially welcome. Members range from school age to retired.
Helen Elliot
Choir Section Leader
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Our new rehearsal venue at Statham School means that we have the luxury of the space to break into sections in different rooms for part of the rehearsal. But we couldn't do that without the help of our section leaders Jen & Helen who both bring great leadership experience to the choir. Helen also gets us geed up with her famous warm up exercises.
Alan Williams
Business Manager
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Alan got things started by handling the publicity and recruitment that created the original choir. He now looks after the logistics, publicity and financing of our gigs including the bringing in of guest artists.
Alan is a member of the choir and is also a singer/pianist who performs in his own right in local venues like the Cinnamon Club.
Contact him by email or call 01925-754080 07540 096282