The official website of The Beccles Choral Society

Musical Director – Philip Simms
 
Philip has had a distinguished life in choral music. He founded the Thomas Tallis Society, ran the choir St Alfege’s Church in Greenwich, formed the Tallis Chamber choir, which performed in this country and abroad, and he has also been director of Aldeburgh Music Club. He has commissioned music for young composers for choirs and has an extensive history in directing major choral pieces. As well as conducting, his skills extend also to playing in orchestras when time permits, being an organist and double bass player. Beccles Choral Society is indeed fortunate that he was able and willing to agree to lead this choir from September 2008 and to give us the benefit of his wide experience.”

St. Michael's Brass Quintet
Director - Ray Simmons (Trumpet)
Ray Simmons was for two decades Principal Trumpeter of the RPO. He played with all the other major orchestras, performed and recorded concertos on numerous occasions, appeared on countless film and TV sessions and toured the globe with some of the best conductors and soloists around. He now teaches at the UEA, Norwich.


Bevin Mack (2nd Trumpet)
Bevin Mack has been playing the trumpet since the age of eight. From 1990 to 1995 he was a member of the Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra, giving family concerts at the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican. Whilst living and working in Israel (1995-99), Bevin was principal trumpet with the Hillel Hebrew University Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem. Bevin is a mathematics teacher at Norwich School.

Kay Dawson (French Horn)
Kay Dawson, bom in Essex, started playing the French horn at the age of nine, later going on to study at the Royal College of Music. After graduating, Kay freelanced in London, playing at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and in the West End. Kay moved to Suffolk in 1992. She now works as a brass teacher in private schools in Suffolk and Essex. Kay is a member of The Seckford Brass Ensemble and the Siciliana Wind Quintet.

Tony Parsons (Trombone)
Anthony Parsons took up the trombone at school in Leicester aged thirteen. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music then served three years in the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards. He joined Sadlers Wells Opera Orchestra for two years then moved to the Halle Orchestra, Manchester, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. He was appointed co-principal trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1970, a position he held until 1998. He was Trombone Professor at the London College of Music 1972-96. Now retired from symphony orchestra life, Tony lives in Suffolk and is deeply involved in local music making.

Ken Fitzhugh (Tuba)
Ken FitzHugh has been playing the tuba since he was 14 years of age and studied at the Royal College of Music. He has recently moved to Norfolk and is enjoying playing with a number of orchestras, wind bands and ensembles. Ken is currently lecturing at UEA and holds a PhD in Marketing and Strategic Management.


There are no further biographies available for this coming concert