About A Choir'd Taste
About Us
In the spring of 2009 the idea was formed to start a mixed voice choir in the Village. Posters went up to gauge what support we might expect. and sixty people turned up at the inaugral meeting. Andrew Nicklin, director of Derby Gilbert & Sullivan Company agreed to be our musical director and Philip Heath our accompanist. We arranged two taster sessions and the new choir’s first practice took place in the Thomas Cook Memorial Hall in May 2009.
Tickets for our first concert in May 2010 sold out in four days. By now Nic Robinson was our musical director and Richard Allen, then only 14 years old had joined us as our accompanist.
Fifteen years on the choir has grown in size and developed an extensive repertoire of choral classics, modern music and always a dash of the quirky. We put on three major concerts a year in Melbourne and sing at various events elsewhere. We welcome visiting soloists to take part in our concerts and have accompanied Karen England, opera singer on several occasions and hosted the Burberi string quartet. We have travelled to sing in Derby Cathedral, Belper, Burton on Trent, Chatsworth as well as in the gardens of Melbourne Hall and the Dower House. We also raise money for local and national charities and we are a registered charity ourselves.
From the beginning there has been a policy of no auditions. Prospective new members are always welcome to attend a couple of taster sessions before they join. The ethos of the choir is to enjoy singing together and to do it to the very best of our ability. We are very much a community based choir, and we sing at the annual Melbourne Festival and at the Melbourne Sporting Partnership. We host regular socila occasions too and we even have a team in the annual Village Quiz.
Practises are held on Wednesday evenings from 7.15 – 9.15 in Melbourne Methodist Church, 5 Church Street, Melbourne. Monthly subscription fees are currently £10 a month, with an additional annual fee of £10. Logistics and business matters are looked after by our committee and Paul is in charge of all things musical.
Where We Perform
Our three seasonal concerts, Spring, Autumn and Christmas, are held at the Melbourne Assembly Rooms, but we have performed in a variety of other venues. The Assembly Rooms have raked seats for both choir and audience for enhanced sound and vision.
Our Repertoire
We have a very wide repertoire, and each concert has a specially prepared programme. Music from the Shows is always popular, with choral pop (Abba/Beatles) also crowd favourites. We include a number of “classical” or choral works in most concerts, and Christmas is always carols and festive music.
Paul Marshall
Musical Director
Paul Marshall was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire and studied piano, organ, and singing.
He was Organist of St. Georges Parish Church, accompanist for a local ballet school, and rehearsal pianist for local choral societies. In Loughborough he was organist of Thorpe Acre Parish Church, and MD of Loughborough Ladies Choir. In Derby he was Chairman of Derby Bach Choir for 10 years.
He is senior lay clerk in Derby Cathedral Choir, vocal coach for the choristers of Derby Cathedral, MD of Dalesmen Male Voice Choir, singing teacher at Derby High School and Derby Grammar School.
As Musical Director of A Choir’d Taste he has seen the choir grow in confidence, tackling complex music of various genres with excellent results. The choir sings new music on a regular basis, from Baroque to Beatles, and has had music specially written for them.
Alexander Binns
Accompanist
Described by the Organ Magazine as ‘one of our finest young players’, Alexander Binns is the Director of Music at Derby Cathedral as well as being our regular accompanist. At the Cathedral he is responsible for one of the most rapidly expanding Cathedral Music Departments in the country, including the Music in Schools programme (which works with over 900 children weekly in 18 schools each week), and for directing the Cathedral Choir for services, concerts, broadcasts, recordings, and tours. He recently received an award for great and valuable services to the community by the High Sheriff of Derbyshire for his work with the Cathedral Choir and the Music in Schools programme
Joining Enquiries
A Choir’d Taste welcomes enquires from new singers. There is a no audition policy, but a good standard of singing is expected. Everyone is welcome to come and give it a go. If you’re interested in joining, please contact us using the link below and come along to a couple of taster sessions to see if the choir is right for you.
We’re fortunate to currently have a strong and vibrant membership, so some sections may have limited space, but don’t let that stop you from reaching out. We’d love to hear from you, particularly if you have a tenor or bass voice. We will also let you know about any upcoming opportunities to get involved.
Rehearsals
Practises are held on Wednesday evenings from 7.15 – 9.15 at Melbourne Methodist Church at 5 Church Street, Melbourne, Derby DE73 8EJ.
Fees
Membership fees are currently £10 a month for 11 months and an annual £10 subscription fee.
Booking Enquiries
Whether you’re planning a private event or exploring a potential collaboration, we’re always open to new performance opportunities.
Please get in touch via the link below and we’d be delighted to discuss how we can work together.