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East Malling Singers |
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East Malling Singers |
Photograph by kind permission of Kent Messenger
East Malling Singers is a mixed choir of approximately 60 amateur singers currently in its 39th season and under the able leadership of Music Director Benjamin Rous.
Rehearsals take place in term time on Wednesdays from 8-10pm in The Church of St. James the Great, East Malling, Kent.
A minimum of four concerts per year are performed, usually in the church, one of which is a 'Come & Sing' event in which we are joined by soloists and orchestra, and has proven popular with guest singers.
We run a patrons scheme whereby people wishing to support our choir pay a minimum annual donation in return for various benefits, including discounted ticket prices, and invitation to social and fund-raising events.
The choir has an active social life, with regular quiz evenings, an annual meal, and of course visits to the pub after rehearsals!
For more information or if you are interested in joining us please contact our secretary Jane Crotty
East Malling Singers is affiliated to Making Music and is a registered charity (No. 1091754)
Benjamin studied composition, piano and conducting at the Royal College of Music and at King's College, London and has played in masterclasses with Dame Moura Lympany, Bernard Roberts and Benjamin Zander. At the RCM Benjamin performed at the 60th Birthday concert for Edwin Roxburgh and as a pianist in the Composer's Ensemble. He recently was an accompanist in the Sounds New Festival in Canterbury, giving the second performance of John Casken's Chansons de Verlaine.
Whilst at the Royal College, Benjamin also studied Javanese Gamelan music and since then has played with the South Bank Gamelan Players and Paris Cite de la Musique, Alpha Beta Gamelan and the RCM Gamelan Project; performances have included concerts and festivals in Europe and the UK, including the Bath Festival and Glastonbury Festival.
Benjamin is currently Music Director of East Malling Singers and also works as a freelance conductor with orchestras, ensembles, choirs and in the theatre . He works in a variety of roles with the County Youth Choirs - as conductor, tutor and accompanist. He accompanied the Kent Youth Choir on their tour of Finland and Estonia as pianist and assistant conductor and played piano in the ensemble accompanying the Kent County Junior Singers and massed junior school choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in November.
Benjamin has given classes for the Wigmore Hall and Goldsmith's College (University of London). He currently teaches at Wallington County Grammar School in Surrey and at the Conservatoire in Blackheath where he is Course Leader for Academic Music. For several years he was involved with the training of the Senior Orchestra at St Dunstan's College and conducted them in concerts at St John's, Smith Square in London.
Benjamin is a member of Ginkgo Music - a project linking music and ecology to foster the biodiversity of forest ecosystems. He has worked as one of the pianists and arrangers for the charity's first CD release and conducted the orchestra which is featured on several of the tracks. The CD is due to be on sale in the Autumn 2009. Please visit Ginkgo Music to find out more.
July 2009
Seasonal music from the choir, organ and piano, including Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams
We invite guest singers to join us for this concert. If you would like to take part please contact Robert Greenham (01622 750943).
Celebrating organ, piano and choral music from England across the ages. Piano - Nick Bland
All concerts take place in East Malling Church by kind permission of the Vicar and Church Wardens, beginning at 7.30pm.
Tickets for the above events priced at £8, £6 (concessions) and children free (unless otherwise stated) are available
from Sue Greenham (01622 750943), or at the door.
Season tickets £32/£24. Purchase a season ticket to reserve your preferred place for each concert.
Additional Sessions
7.30 weekly by arrangement
Since the launch of this scheme in July 1999 when our retiring Music Director David Leeke became a lifetime member we now have total of 33 patrons. Our thanks go out to the following:-
| Kate Adds | Margaret Amos | Nick Ashbee | Anne Chance | Robert Chance |
| Alison Dando | Anna Ashbee | Shri Footring | Connie Garrett | Elaine Gordon* |
| Robert Greenham* | Sue Greenham* | John Gulland* | Andrea Jones | David Leeke* |
| Tina Leeke* | Mary Anne Mathews | Tim Mathews | Stella Monaghan Addy | Paul Moss |
| Malcolm Moulton | Mairi Moulton | Brian Parfett | Penny Parfett | Tudor Price* |
| Benjamin Rous* | Ron Rous | Brian Self | Brian Shaw | Liz Simpson |
| Michael Tillett | Michele Turney | Di Woodrow |
(* denotes lifetime patron)
You too can become a patron of East Malling Singers! For as little as £12 per year you will receive a 25% discount on concert tickets, invitation to social events, news letter and season brochure.
If you would like to support East Malling Singers please contact Janey Crotty for further details.
Many thanks to Ron for photography and brochure design, Gareth Foreman for logo design, and also to Pia, Tim, Marjorie, Anthony and Howard for their reviews.
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