The singers
At the time of writing we have 24 singers, consisting of 9 sopranos, 5 altos, 4 tenors and 6 basses.
While some of our members have sung with us — or with other choirs — for years, others had never sung in public before joining us. We continue to welcome new members in either category.
We operate on a democratic basis with a committee elected from among our members, and are not affiliated to any other organisation.
Our Director of Music
Elaine Thorneycroft-Gibb took over as our Director of Music in May 2008. Elaine excels at encouraging people to enjoy music-making together, and is using her skills, expertise and sense of humour to help us to build our repertoire and improve our choral abilities.
Well known in local musical circles, Elaine has been involved with singing for most of her life. After joining her local church choir as a child, she sang throughout her teenage years with her mother and four brothers and sisters, entertaining at day-clubs and parties in and around Bath. Elaine subsequently sang with Bath's well known Jane Lilley Singers (runners up in the the 1996 HTV Choir of the Year awards), Taunton Choral Society (1990 to 1994), and the Taunton Camerata (1994 to 1998). At the Choral Society's 1991 performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, she sang the treble solo, sharing the stage with celebrated Welsh singer Bryn Terfel.
Between 1998 and 2008 Elaine combined her musical and leadership skill in the roles of organist and Choir Director at the church of St Francis of Assisi, Bridgwater. As well as leading weekly worship she played and sang at many events and festivals, and presented annual concerts including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo.
In addition to her choral interests, Elaine is a well established teacher of the piano and guitar. She is also a competent harpist, playing at weddings, funerals, parties and mediaeval banquets.
Our accompanist
Angela Parkes, LRAM, LTCL, is an experienced piano teacher and accompanist, and has accompanied the J Singers for several years.
Angela began playing the piano at an early age and, after several years of tuition, she gained a Distinction in the top Grade 8 ABRSM exam. Encouraged by her success, she went on to study for a diploma in piano teaching with the Trinity College of Music, followed by the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music diploma.
Angela has now taught the piano for nearly 40 years and, before moving to Somerset in 1997, was the accompanist for a ladies choir in Plymouth.
In addition to accompanying the J Singers and her teaching, Angela has also been the Director of Music for her local pantomime society for the past 10 years.
Our history
The J Singers have had several changes of name since our foundation in 1966, when a group of men gathered informally around a piano to sing for pleasure. They named themselves The Bridgwater Glee Singers and first sang in public at the Bridgwater Arts Centre in 1967. Their objective was to raise money for charitable organisations and other good causes of any size, an aim which — along with enjoying our singing — we continue to follow.
In 1969 a similar ladies’ group, The Thornbury Singers, was founded. The two groups sang together at several concerts in the area and, in 1972, decided to amalgamate to form The Quantock Singers. At this time the leading tenor was Alfred Atkin, while the pianist was Joan Rumsey. After their marriage, the group sang under the name of The Joan Atkin Singers from 1974 until 1992.
When Joyce Hodges took over as Director of Music in 1992 we adopted our current name — The J Singers. Joyce was succeeded in 1999 by Joyce Peach (2000 to 2001). From 2002 to 2005, Director of Music Bill Young was the driving force behind several major charitable concerts, many of them held at Bridgwater Town Hall. He was followed by David Yates (2006 to 2007) and, briefly, by David Tilling.
Spring 2008 saw the appointment of Elaine Thorneycroft-Gibb as our Director of Music and we are now enjoying a renewed phase of musical development.
