Marshfield
Male Voice
Choir
More about us
Gillian Ridley-Wells, our Musical Director.
We are delighted to announce our new musical director as of September 2024, Gillian Ridley-Wells. Gillian (Gilly) completed her postgraduate vocal studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, under the tuition of Kathleen Ferguson. She also previously graduated from the vocal and opera studies course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
As a keen recitalist, Gillian regularly performs on the concert platform and is frequently invited as a guest soloist with choral societies and male voice choirs. Recent highlights include performing the soprano solos in three of Vivaldi’s works, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Bach St John’s Passion and Bach Magnificat. Gillian is also a vocalist for the five-piece baroque ensemble ‘Sonority 18C,’ based in North Wraxall.
More recently, Gillian has pursued conducting opportunities, including leading a singing group for women’s wellbeing in her home town of Nailsworth, which was part of a national non-profit network called ‘Singing Mamas.’ She now facilitates singing circles for ‘Stroud Motherhood Collective,’ a CIC which runs a variety of activities for mothers’ wellbeing.
Gillian is delighted to be musical director for Marshfield Male Voice Choir, who she holds dear from a history of performing alongside as a soloist, and now continues to do so from‘behind the baton’!
Sarah Bartlett, accompanist since 2020
We are enormously grateful that Sarah has stepped into the role of playing for us. It is wonderful having such a talented and skilled performer supporting both Luana and the choir, helping us to make the most of our performances.
Sarah was a primary school teacher and then worked with children with cerebral palsy at the Peto Institute in Budapest. For the past 22 years she has taught piano, mostly to children using the Suzuki method. She enjoys accompanying many local singers and instrumentalists.
Elio Wilson, musical director 2023
Elio picked up the flute at 9 years old and thanks to his grandparent's support hasn't looked back. From Hereford, he is an accomplished flute player receiving his Diploma from the London College of Music at 18 years old. Elio is a third-year student at Bath Spa University studying Music.
Elio studied at the Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire for several years where he gained an interest in choral conducting. Elio joined Marshfield Male Voice Choir in January 2023 taking on the role of Musical Director.
After his undergraduate degree he hopes to gain his master's in music therapy. Elio is a passionate supporter of the arts being accessible for everybody, especially community groups, marginalised identities, and those with disabilities.
Hilary Newman, musical director 2013-2015 and 2020-2022
Hilary trained in classical singing at the Birmingham Conservatoire whilst studying Biology at Aston University. She has sung several operatic roles, and in choirs. She is a Performance Associate of the Royal College of Music, and a qualified music teacher. In 2020 Hilary once again taken up the baton following Deryck's retirement. We are very grateful to her in taking on the challenge of bringing out the best in the choir and guiding us forward.
Deryck Hanchett, musical director 2015-2020
Deryck has spent much of his life immersed in music, either in brass bands, orchestras or choirs. Whilst living in Brighton he joined the Brighton Welsh Male Voice Choir, becoming deputy conductor, before moving as conductor to the Brighton Male Voice Choir, where he had considerable success at local events and festivals. He moved to Chippenham in 2003, and joined the Marshfield Band as their bass trombone player. When the opportunity to join MMVC became available he immediately took it, and greatly looks forward to using his experience & sense of fun to continue to develop the choir.
Joy Cheverton, accompanist. 2013-2020
Joy hails from Cardiff, where she studied piano at the College of Music & Drama, and plays to Grade 8 standard. She was a church organist, and ran a childrens choir. Thirty years ago she crossed the bridge to live in Chipping Sodbury, where she has been heavily involved in the music scene in the Baptist chapel and as Musical Director of Sodbury Pantomime, as well as providing music therapy for children with special needs. A retired senior civil servant, Joy has two sons and four grand-children.
Laurel Pyne, musical director 2010-2013
Laurel was Marshfield Male Voice Choir's very first choir leader and was an incredible inspiration and guide for the choir in the early days. Having achieved a PGCE from Goldsmiths College, London, in teaching and Learning theory and a BA Hons from Worcester College, Laurel was well placed to lead people in the arts, having developed skills in psychology and studied both Shakespeare and dance.
Gillian Wells, guest Soprano.
In July 2013 Gillian graduated as a soprano on the vocal and opera studies course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In Summer 2011 and 2012 she was accepted on an Italian Opera course in Puglia, where she enjoyed studying the roles: Susanna – Le Nozze di Figaro, Norina – Don Pasquale, Despina – Cosi Fan Tutte and Servilia – Clemenzadi Tito. Over the years Gillian has performed regularly as a soloist in a large number of venues in the area. In July 2013 Gillian helped to raise over £1,000 for Tormarton church in her sell-out homecoming concert.
Will Snell, guest musician.
Will started tenor horn at Marshfield primary school, and played with Marshfield Band. At age 12 he switched to the French horn and now plays with the West Wilts Concert Band. He also plays football and supports Aston Villa.
Rebecca Snell, Guest Soloist.
Rebecca is a musician, student, and "Marshfielder". She plays piano and cello, and enjoys singing and writing/arranging music in a variety of styles. She has taken part in many Marshfield Players' productions for over twelve years, including co-directing Snow White in 2015. She wrote, directed and performed in Turncoat (a cabaret opera) for the Chippenham Festival od Arts in 2014.