www.masqueradechoir.co.uk - Masquerade's Musical Directors

Masquerade's Musical Directors


Barry Clark	BARRY CLARK Barry Clark was born in Kettering, where he was a pupil at the Boys' Grammar School. He then studied at the Royal Academy of Music and London University. He is a Graduate of the Royal Schools of Music (GRSM) and was awarded the MA in Music Education as well as the Diploma in Education, the Music Teacher's Certificate and the LRAM, ARCM and LGSM diplomas. In the latter he received the silver medal for the highest marks in any instrument. For thirty years he was then Head of Music at schools in Wellingborough, Harrow, Market Harborough and Kettering, as well as being responsible for the junior choirs of the Royal Academy of Music. He was also a visiting teacher of brass instruments at King's College Choir School in Cambridge and at Harrow School. His brass bands and choirs have been award winners in the National Festival of Music for Youth on a number of occasions, with subsequent appearances in the Schools Proms. In 1998 his band were winners of the school section of the BBC Radio 2 Youth Brass Band competition. His choirs have been prizewinners at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod on twelve occasions. In addition to winning their category of the radio choral competition Let the Peoples Sing, they were also awarded the title of 'Outstanding UK Choir', and also won awards at the Bela Bartok Choral Festival in Debrecen, Hungary, and at the Montreux International Choir Competition. His groups have toured in most European countries, as well as in Canada, the United States and South Africa. In 1997 he took early retirement from full time teaching in order to devote more time to his work as a festival adjudicator and as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He has subsequently toured in all parts of Britain and Ireland, as well as in Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Sarawak, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, USA and the West Indies. He is married with two sons; the oldest, Robert, is a pianist for the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, as well as being the principal pianist for Masquerade, while the youngest, Richard, is a piano teacher for the Northamptonshire Music Service. His other interests include marathon running and photography.
	JUDITH TOMLINSON Judith Tomlinson was born in Kettering and educated at Kettering High School for Girls. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and is a Graduate of the Royal Schools of Music (GRSM). She also has an LRAM in Pianoforte. She enjoyed a long and successful teaching career at schools in Rushden, Barton Seagrave and Kettering. Her choirs won numerous prizes both locally and nationally, in events such as the National Festival of Music for Youth, where they were award winners on a number of occasions. She was also the accompanist for the Montagu Girls' Choir in Kettering, with whom she toured widely, and the Cytringan Singers. Early retirement from full-time teaching has enabled her to devote more time playing the piano, and she is now the accompanist for seceral local choirs and musical organisations. Judith has been the conductor of the Masquerade Junior Choir since September 2006, and always looks forward to Friday evening rehearsals with such an enthusiastic group of young singers.
	PAMELA WRIGHT Pam was born in Kettering and educated at Kettering High School for Girls. She went on to study at Trinity College of Music, London, and at the Institute of Education, London University. She is a Graduate of Trinity College (GTCL), as well as being an LTCL in Music Education. She also has an LTCL in Singing and an LTCL in Pianoforte. In addition, she holds the Music Teacher's Certificate (London University). She studied singing with James Gaddarn, who was Repetiteur at Covent Garden, and singing and choir training have always been her first love. She has been conducting both childrens' and andult SATB choirs since the age of 16. She has been Head of Music in several schools, including Corby Grammar School and Southfield School for Girls, were she spent twenty years. Her school choirs have been successful in competitions, both locally and nationally, in particular Sainsbury's Choir of the Year and the National Festival of Music for Youth. Pamela now teaches singing and piano, as well as having taken up a conducting role with Masquerade, which she enjoys immensely and says that it is a pleasure to work with such talented young musicians.

ROBERT CLARK - Accompanist Robert Clark was born in Kettering and began learning the piano at the age of five, being first taught by his father, Barry, and then by Jean Anderson as a junior student at the Royal Academy of Music. While at Bishop Stopford School he began accompanying choirs and toured extensively with several of them. in 1993 he was awarded a place at the Royal College of Music, where he studied the piano for four years with Neil Immermann and Ruth gerald. As a student, he became a staff pianist for the Royal Academy of Dancing. Then, on leaving college, Robert worked as a freelance pianist, playing for ballet and accompanying many soloists both in this country and around the world, including the USA, Canada, Dubai, China and many European countries, appearing in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, London and The Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto. Robert was appointed as Pianist for The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden in March 2000, and has appeared as piano soloist at The Royal Opera House with the company on numerous occasions, as well as touring in Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, The USA, Mexico and Russia. In September 2005 he became pianist for Masquerade, and is delighted to be accompanying the choir when his work commitments allow. Robert is a keen golfer in his spare time.