The Mendip Male Voice Choir are delighted to announce the return of Kate Courage as their Musical Director starting in April.
Kate studied Music and English Literature at Warwick University and has taught, directed, conducted, and composed for many choirs, groups, and schools, including twice conducting at the Royal Albert Hall Schools Proms with a massed choir of 500 children singing two of her songs. She was Education Manager for Iford Opera and lectured at universities and colleges and was Deputy Head of the Bristol Arts and Music Service and Assistant Head of the Wiltshire Music Service. She has been published by Faber Music and BaBa Productions and has her own website www.katecouragemusic.com. Kate now works as a freelance composer, conductor, accompanist, and teacher and was previously the MD of MMVC from 2003 until 2013 when she left to have her daughter and now takes over from our current MD Jamie Knights who replaced her 2013 and is leaving to spend more time with his family.
Choir Chairman Richard Luscombe said “We will be very sad to see Jamie leave after 11 enjoyable and successful years but feel sure that Kate will carry on guiding the musical direction and enjoyment of the choir. Unusually the choir has only had 5 MDs in the 105 years since it started 1919 as the Timsbury Male Voice Choir, though one of the 5 will have now served twice”.
The choir’s weekly rehearsals are on Mondays at 19.30-21.30 at St Mary’s School, Timsbury and new members are always welcome. Please just turn up and see how you fit in or speak to an existing member.
For further information about the choir including concert dates please go to the choir’s website www.mendipmen.co.uk
Simon Martin
Publicity Officer
March 2024