Our conductor

SHIRLEY COURT

Shirley is nationally known for her ability to motivate and inspire young singers of all ages and capabilities. In September 2006 she was awarded with an Honorary Degree of DMus for her work as a conductor of Youth Choirs and Music in Schools from the University of Leicester.

Whilst working in Leicestershire as Vocal and Choral Specialist her award winning girl’s choir, The Chanterelles, won the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Youth Choir section and were runners up in the Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year Competition 2000. Earlier this year the Chanterelles have re formed and the choir is now made up of 50 young ladies who will perform three or four times a year in concerts up and down the country.

She regularly conducts massed choirs of primary school children and November 2004 conducted the Cheshire Massed Choir of 600 voices at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music for Youth’s School Prom.

She is also a regular presenter of the Music for Youths’ Primary Proms both in Birmingham and in Chester.

Shirley was the conductor of the CBSO Youth Choruses from 1995 until July of this year. In this role she has worked alongside many world famous conductors preparing the Youth Chorus for many prestigious events.

In September 2008 she was appointed as Director of the newly established Halle Children’s Choir.

She also directs the Royal Northern College of Muisc Youth Sings project as part of the Community outreach programme

Shirley is currently the lead vocal animateur for Cheshire Partnership in Music and the Director of the Cheshire Youth Choir, who were awarded a silver diploma at the Choir Olympics in Gratz, Austria in July 2008.

Shirley also acts as a consultant on many National Singing initiatives and runs inset courses for teachers She is also the co-author of the best selling Singing Sherlock Books for Key Stage 1 and 2.

Our new accompanist CAROLYN EARLE

Carolyn studied with Keith Swallow at Bretton Hall College, gaining B. Ed , L.

T.C.L and A.T.C.L.diplomas in piano performance. Since then she has been class

teaching in many Yorkshire primary schools, specialising in Music. She has

accompanied many students taking exams and performing in concerts, as well as

teaching piano at all levels.