Musical Director
Our Musical Director is Faye Deane BMus (Hons) PGDip TCM PGCE TLLLS
Faye studied the clarinet and performance at Trinity College of Music, London. She also studied conducting under Peter Stark and Gregory Rose.
Faye has performed all over the UK and worldwide with various groups and ensembles both singing and playing. Her recordings are on a variety of albums. Now back in Leicestershire, where she studied for her teaching qualification, Faye runs her own baby and toddler non-profit music classes ‘Castanet Kids’, which she hopes will encourage more music into schools. Faye has her own individual style and a tireless enthusiasm to get things out of us we didn’t even know we had! She inspires confidence and energy. Her warm up and rehearsal techniques have certainly released our ‘inner diva’ and enabled us to be the best we can! Faye’s two small children often attend our rehearsals - they are our youngest members! |
AccompanistOur ‘Accompanist Extraordinaire’ is Jane Holyland
Jane grew up in a musical household. She learned piano and viola during her school years and, on her return from university became the accompanist for the Market Harborough Gang Show productions and in addition began to play for two local dance academies. In 2011 she became the pianist for the local U3A choir and then in 2013 joined Songbirds.
Jane works hard to support our choir - making recordings so that we can practise at home, searching for music that she feels the choir will enjoy and at the same time, learn from. She says she feels very lucky to be useful to the choir whilst enjoying her hobby - however, she’s much more than ‘useful’! Indispensable would be the more accurate description! Jane is a versatile pianist who accompanies Songbirds with great sensitivity and understanding - helping us immensely when we practise. She has a wicked laugh and a real twinkle in her eye! |