Musical Team

Scott Woolfenden

The Choir was very fortunate to recruit Scott to the Musical Team during 2014 following his move to Worcestershire.

A  young family man and talented musician. Scott was in the Royal Marines for 6 years as a Bandsman, was a member of the Salvation Army Band Choir and was accompanist for the Saddleworth Male Voice Choir for 8 years (the name Saddleworth comes from a number of villages situated on the Yorkshire /Lancashire border ).

He teaches piano and brass in primary and secondary schools and has already accompanied WMVC on piano, trumpet and organ. He is available to perform at weddings and other celebrations.

Scott has also got involved in amateur dramatics and is currently Musical Director for a group in Droitwich. A busy  man who has already had the opportunity to play in a number of our concerts including a Massed Choirs concert at Colston Hall, Bristol.

In September 2018 Scott took over the baton from Nicholas Wright as Musical Director, he brings energy to the choir and we are sure that he will lead the choir to new heights.

Haydn Thomas

As his name suggests, Haydn is of Welsh stock. His late father David, an ex coal miner from the Afan Valley, tenor and violinist, founded the Solihull Male Voice Choir in which Haydn sang upon leaving school.

Haydn went into the Civil Service during which time his hobbies included drama, singing and rugby. In later life he returned to playing the violin and viola which he plays in local ensembles. He joined the choir in 2002 , then, after retiring from the Civil Service, he took on the role of Deputy Conductor and has enjoyed tremendous support from the choristers and the music team.

In addition to bringing his interest in music to conducting, he has not let his stage experience decline, and has performed as Narrator in a world premiere of’The Ballad of St Kenelm’, a work By Worcestershire composer Andrew Downes.

James Jarvis

We are very pleased to have such a talented musician join the choir, he joined us in August 2018 to take over from Scott.

Lauren Gilbert

Lauren graduated with a BMus (Hons) from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 2010 after studying piano with Victor Sangiorgio.
Prior to her studies in Birmingham, Lauren was a finalist in the ‘Rotary Clubs of Bedford Young Musician of the Year’ and gained joint first in the ‘Piano Solo Recital’ class in the Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama (2006).
During her time at the Conservatoire she was a finalist in ‘Reginald Vincent Lieder Prize’, ‘David Brooks Piano Prize’ and the ‘Delia Hall Accompaniment Prize’ and won the Accompanists prize in the ‘Gordon Clinton English Song Prize’. Lauren has also worked as Répétiteur for Bedfordshire Youth Opera.
She currently works as a freelance musician and music teacher within the West Midlands.
For several years she was Musical Director for ‘The Arcadians’ and has recently taken on the role of Musical Director for the Community Choir at the The Elgar School of Music.
Lauren has a real passion for accompanying and regularly plays for several Choirs as well as featuring as a band member for Musicals.

Sheila Leatherland

Sheila has spent a lifetime helping others to enjoy music. A trained school teacher she not only brought her love of music and singing to the education sector but also to a number of church and of course male voice choirs. Sheila’s enthusiasm, skill, talent and experience are so obvious to all.

During 2014 she accompanied a number of male voice choirs at a St George’s Day Concert in Symphony Hall ,Birmingham. Her attention to detail, her serious preparation of the choir, her infectious teaching style means that Sheila is  held in great respect by  the choristers of the WMVC and up until September 2017 was the choir’s accompanist which she did for 12 years which makes her more than qualified to become the choirs vocal coach.

Dave Bradley

BBC Hereford & Worcestershire

David Mathews

Robert Saunders

Robert Harkins

Ian Lumley

Michael Jeeves

Les Janes

Geoffrey Ruddock

Alan Simmonds

Ken Fiffe

Chairman

Mark Membery

Vice-Chairman

John Hadley

Secretary

Dave Peters

Treasurer

Gill Janes

Stage Manager

Phil Collins

Concert Sec

Robert Skinner

PRO Officer

Jonathan Harris

Membership Sec

Chris Smart

Librarian

John Hadley

Sponsorship

Brian Bennett

1st Tenor

Brian Bennett

2nd Tenor

Glyn Marshall

Baritone

Matt Davis

Bass

Clive Way