Musical Director & Accompanist
Ian Abbott was born and brought up in Dewsbury and learnt to play piano at an early age, gaining Grade 8 piano at the age of 15. He went on to study Chemistry at Bristol University and was awarded an Organ Scholarship through the university at Tyndale Baptist Church. After returning to Yorkshire, Ian gained an interest in amateur theatre and took up several appointments with various societies as accompanist and later as Musical Director. He was accompanist for several years with the highly successful Sing Live, during which time he appeared on Open House With Gloria Hunniford and sang at the Royal Albert Hall. Ian is currently organist at Trinity Methodist Church in Mirfield. He lives in Mirfield with his wife Nicola and their two daughters, Bethany and Danielle. Ian has been Musical Director with Marsh Ladies since 2009, during which time the choir has gone from strength to strength.
Kim Kaye (LRAM, GRSM) studied piano, cello, harpsichord and piano accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and now lives in the Holme Valley working as a freelance musician. As well as teaching piano, flute and music theory, Kim is an accompanist for concerts, festivals and examinations. She is the resident accompanist for Marsh Ladies’ Choir, Holme Valley Youth Choir and Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir as well as directing the Holme Valley Singers and the Kirklees Choir (formerly Huddersfield U3A). Kim also performs piano duets as part of Roka with Jane Robertson and has recently become a Grade examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
President
Val Javin has spent more than 40 years as a journalist, working as news reporter, sports journalist, sub-editor and until her recent retirement, head of features at
the Huddersfield Examiner. Val specialised in arts coverage, writing arts columns and reviews for more than 35 years. She has built up strong connections across the
region in theatre, music, opera, visual arts and dance and has mentored a number of young performers. Val was actively involved in the campaign to establish a theatre
in Kirklees and was a trustee of the Kirklees Theatre Trust from its outset until 2007. She chaired the Development Committee which led the fund-raising campaign for
the conversion of the Queen Street Mission. Re-joining the board of trustees in 2015, she is now its vice-chairperson. Val has been part of Huddersfield Theatre Users’
Association for almost 30 years. Val is an experienced charity trustee, positions include board member of Dark Horse theatre company and chair of Huddersfield Common
Good Trust.
Marsh Ladies Choir are delighted to have Val Javin as their President from February 2017.
First Sopranos
Section Members
Katie Beadle, Anne Buckley (Committee), Helen Clayton (Chair), Anne Haigh, Mary Hallet, Steph Hopkinson, Ruth Ledgard, Alison Mason, Judith McDonnell, Ella Robertshaw, Nicola Waddington (Committee), Deborah Wild, Susan Yates
Second Sopranos
Section Members
Carol Amitrano (Committee), Anne Armstrong, Gemma Buckley, Nina Carradice, Anne Crabtree, Mavis Green, Judith Hey, Gill Ritchie, Jennifer Tennant (Treasurer), Heike Vehling, Fiona Wakley
Altos
Section Members
Sandra Cooper, Judith Crossland, Judy Dennett, Linda Ellis, Amanda Greenwood, Jill Hinchcliffe, Pauline McNeil, Jane Plant, Hilary Robertshaw (Secretary), Kate Shaw (Wardrobe, Music Librarian), Janet Smith, June Whitehead
Honorary Members
Brian Clayton (former President and Advocate), Raymond Ellis (Compere & Performer), John Mitton (Auditor), Peter Tennant (Web Site)