Voices for Hospices Choir

John is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and an accomplished bass player, singer and conductor. He was the youngest ever bass player in the National Youth Orchestra and a founder member of the group that went on to become Mott the Hoople. Since leaving the RCM, John's eclectic love of music has seen him performing with musicians as diverse as Pierre Boulez and the Walker Brothers and organising and conducting musical events throughout Europe. Engaged with Voices for Hospices since its inception John is dedicated to the ideal of voices joining together to support the Hospice movement - and to the idea that doing so should be fun!

The King’s award of an MBE in the NY Honours list 2023 is of great pride for him, although he fully recognises that without the support of so many singers and supporters over the years, this would not have been possible.

A professional singer since the age of eight, Jenny had already won prizes for her performances at Festivals such as Llangollen and Blackpool, and with Sir Charles Groves and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, before entering the Royal College of Music.  (where she met her husband, tonight's conductor!)

Post graduation Jenny performed with artists such as Elton John and Peter Skellern, made regular appearances with the BBC Singers and had many solo engagements throughout Europe. Working closely with her husband she has played a significant part in raising large sums of money, and awareness, for Hospices since the early days of the VfH movement back in 1989. Jenny is committed to the ideal that musicians, and singers in particular, should give something back to the community that supports them. She is passionate that VfH Choir gives something back for the joy that singing together gives us. We are delighted yet again to have this opportunity to support our Hospices. We look forward to the concert with great anticipation! 

Rae is the treasurer for the VfH Choir concerts, in this country and abroad. His experience in the Army, in the Royal Army Pay Corps has prepared him for this role! He has assisted in the the administration and auditing of many previous concerts, and societies, including those that have benefitted Hospices.

Whilst she was brought up in a musical family Lynda decided to pursue a business career in marketing. Having gained a grounding within blue chip companies she set up and ran her own Marketing and Design agency working with clients such as Lloyds TSB, RAC and British Gas. The sale of her business after more than fifteen years successful trading gave her the freedom to engage in her passion for singing and she is currently an enthusiastic member of several choirs. Used to dealing with people at all levels Lynda is also very experienced at applying a realistic and pragmatic approach to creative projects.

Rosie has been involved with charity fundraising for many years. Nationally with Oxfam and Cancer Research, then locally for Hospices, Romsey Young Carers, local schools, hospitals, Cathedrals and churches. Amongst her many ways of raising funds are choral singing, raffles and bridge days, all of which have proved to be fun and rewarding, whilst supporting worthy causes.

Helen Bailey was born in Middlesbrough and graduated from Liverpool JMU with a First Class degree in English Literature. She qualified as an English teacher before training on the postgraduate Vocal Studies course at Trinity Laban. She then studied at The Royal Academy of Music, winning many awards and gaining an Advanced Diploma in Opera, a Masters in Vocal Studies, and the Vocal Teaching LRAM diploma. 

Helen performs regularly for numerous choral societies across the UK. Highlights include: James Whitbourn’s ‘Annelies’ with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society; Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ at Benenden School; gala concerts with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Kentish Opera; recitals for CODA and Symphonova; Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ for Hampshire Choral Festival at The Anvil, Basingstoke; and the Last Night of the Bexhill Proms with Sussex Concert Orchestra. 

Helen’s operatic roles have been many and varied, though recently she has been focusing on full lyric and spinto roles including Lisa (The Queen of Spades: MSO), Fiordiligi (Cosi Fan Tutte: Carshalton Opera), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel: Uncovered Opera), Madga (La Rondine: MSO), the title role of Jenůfa (MSO), Erste adelige Waise(Der Rosenkavelier: Saffron Opera Group), and Micaëla (Carmen: Opera Brava, Meantime Opera, and Opera South East). She has created roles in two contemporary operas (Apollo’s Mission and The Art of Venus) for Tête-à-tête opera festival and performed the title role in Viardot’s Cinderella for Carshalton Opera. This year, Helen performed the role of Cleopatra in a reimagining of Handel’s Giulio Cesare on tour across the South West with Somerset Opera and Pleasure Dome Theatre. Helen was a finalist in the ‘Everybody Can!’ Robert Presley professional development awards 2023 and has forthcoming engagements with BAFCO, Uncovered Opera, Southwark Sinfonietta, and Grimeborn Opera Festival. 

Helen Bailey soprano

www.helen-bailey.com 

Gilly was born in Bedfordshire and started having piano lessons at the age of six. She continued her piano studies with Martin Hughes at Surrey University where she studied music. She currently teaches the piano at The Pilgrims’ School and St. Swithun’s School in Winchester, and West Hill Park School in Titchfield. Gilly is the accompanist for the Compton and Shawford Festival Choir and the Winchester Festival Choir, and accompanies for local concerts, festivals and examinations. She plays the flute in the chamber group Fusion, and also plays the classical guitar and the viola. 

Originally from the Isle of Wight, Mark Gubbins has sung with a number of choirs in the West London area since moving there in the 1980s. He has an eclectic taste in music, and as well as enjoying singing classical music as a tenor, he has also played guitar and keyboards in a variety of amateur rock bands over the years. Until recently he worked for British Airways, giving him a great opportunity to travel and to experience many different cultures.

“It is a real privilege to sing The Call to Prayer, the sound of which is such a pervasive presence when visiting many cities around the world. With its haunting inflections, you cannot fail to feel its power to summon and unify people – very fitting, therefore, with the call for peace that is the central theme of the Armed Man”

Sri Lankan born baritone, Andrew De Silva, began his singing career as a boy chorister in the choir of Peterborough Cathedral, and until recently, reveled in his love of Cathedral music as a Lay Clerk in the choir of Winchester Cathedral.  In the intervening years Andrew has been a choral scholar while at Canterbury Christ Church University reading Education, a Lay Clerk at Peterborough Cathedral while teaching in primary schools in the city, and is currently Headmaster of The Oratory Prep School in Oxfordshire.

Andrew has appeared in many concerts, broadcasts, CD recordings and European tours with both Peterborough and Winchester Cathedral Choirs.  As a soloist, Andrew has appeared with many choral societies in Hampshire and Surrey, as well as further afield, including in the St Davids Cathedral Festival.  He has enjoyed singing with many renowned orchestras and ensembles, including the BBC Concert Orchestra, British Sinfonietta, Charivari Agreable, and the English Chamber Orchestra.  Recent engagements include Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony and Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Rossini’s Petite Messe Sollenelle, Beethoven’s Mass in C minor, both the St John and the St Matthew Passions by Bach, Verdi’s Requiem, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.  Future engagements for this year include Brahms’ Requiem and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs.

Linda started playing the piano at age 7, and quickly progressed to the stage where she could accompany her parents, both singers, in local concerts. By the age of 15 she was the accompanist for two choirs in the Huddersfield area, learning many of the pieces in the choral repertoire. 

After studying music at Nottingham University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Linda took time out to raise her family, resuming her musical activities in her role as Music Director of her local church. She enjoys accompanying for ABRSM and Trinity exams as well as supporting young people in their GCSE and A level music recitals in local schools. 

Linda has been lucky to travel on music tours with various choirs, performing in France, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Spain and Canada.