The Winkleigh Singers formed in 1984 as an informal group singing madrigals for mutual pleasure. Over the years the choir has studied works, both small and large, by composers from the sixteenth to twenty-first centuries and have performed not only in North Devon and further afield in England but in France and Hungary.
The choir has performed with a number of professional orchestras and ensembles and have a policy of encouraging talented young musicians, regularly employing students and recent graduates from the major music colleges. Among these have been Gareth Brynmor John, winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award (2013), Iain Milne, tenor, now singing leading rôles at the Opera House, Zürich (2009), Gareth Malone OBE (2004) and Emma Granger, now principal harpist at The Royal Opera House (1986).
Overseas tours have been to France on a number of occasions and to Hungary in an exchange with Vox Hungarica. More recently we have collaborated with other local choirs including Vocal Accord, The Swymbridge Consort and The Artavian Singers and Orchestra.
Workshops have been held in recent years to which other singers and choirs are always invited. Previous workshops have been led by, amongst others, Evelyn Tubb, Nigel Perrin and Deborah Miles-Johnson.
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Embracing new work and innovation, over the years the choir has given several first performances, notably:
- Colin Hodgetts:
Season Songs (with Evelyn Tubb as the soloist)
John Lane’s Maggott - Sam Richards: Midwinter Ceremonies
- Simon Standing: Magnificat and Nunc Dimmitis
- Francis Chandler: A Springtime Garland, settings of four poems of Robert Herrick.
- Derek Healey:
A Maiden Mild (first European performance)
Christmas Hath a Darkness (first performance of new version for SATB and harp) - Gordon Langford: From Cornwall to Quebec
The Winkleigh Singers continue to support charity events, in recent years taking part in “Voices for Hospices” and the Macmillan Cancer Relief “Celebration of Christmas” at Castle Hill, Filleigh.
New Members:
The choir holds open rehearsals three times a year to which new and enthusiastic singers are invited, but we always welcome potential members at any of our Monday evening rehearsals in Umberleigh Christian Fellowship Hall at 7.30pm. There is no audition but a three-week trial period after which membership is confirmed or either party may withdraw.
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Our Repertoire
The Winkleigh Singers enjoys a broad repertoire from early to contemporary music.
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People:
Roland Smith, founder and Musical Director
Having taken up singing at the age of seven in the choir at Holy Trinity Church, Cookham-on-Thames, where he was joint head chorister and later a bass, he moved to Devon in 1984 and introduced the idea of a Winkleigh-based chamber choir, which saw the start of The Winkleigh Singers. Since then, he has sung with a number of distinguished choirs including The Schola Aquae Sulis, The South West Cathedral Singers, and Exeter Festival Chorus.
Roland currently sings bass in the Somerset Chamber Choir and is Musical Director of the Devonshire Company of Singers.
Tom Baylis, rehearsal accompanist.
Tom studied music at London University and gained his teaching qualifications at Cambridge University. After 10 years of teaching he returned to Cambridge to train as a minister in the United Reformed Church.
After 27 years of ministry Tom is retired and now enjoys being the regular organist at the Parish Church in South Molton, where he lives with his wife, brother and four cats!
In addition to his accompanying duties, Tom plays French horn with the North Devon Sinfonia, is conductor of the South Molton Singers, and joint conductor of the Petrovian Orchestra.