About us
Imagine! A summers day in 2021 and a conversation between friends “shall we start a choir?”
After a moments hesitation, we all agreed it was a good idea and the Dersingham Choir was born! To test the water we held an Open day in December 2021 and were delighted that so many people in the village expressed their interest. This spurred us on and our first rehearsal took place in early 2022. We had been extremely fortunate to acquire the services of Simon Bower and Matthew Preston to help the choir and we are extremely lucky to have the use of the excellent facilities provided by St Cecilia’s Church here in Dersingham. They have been really supportive. Sadly Simon passed away in January 2025 and he is greatly missed. We are fortunate to have secured the services of Jenny Williams as our new Musical Director.
From the outset we have used sheet music but we do not require anyone to be able to read music. This comes in time, with help and the support of other choir members. Likewise, we do not do auditions - at all! Everyone is welcome, no matter their perceived ability. We are a friendly group who just want to sing together.
An Introduction to Dersingham Choir
Jenny Williams - Musical Director
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Jenny Williams studied Singing and Opera at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Bernard Dickerson before embarking on her career as an International opera singer.
Notable Operatic roles include Donna Elvira and Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni, The Countess in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Adina in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore, Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen and Rosalinda in Johann Strauss/s Die Fledermaus.
Notable Oratorio performances have included the Soprano solos in Handel's Messiah, Mozart's C minor Mass, Hayden's Creation, Brahms' German Requiem, Orff's Carmina Burana, Beethoven's Christ on the Mount of Olives and Bach's St. John's Passion.
Jenny is also much in demand as a Vocal Coach and singing teacher. She has worked with the Bromley Youth Music Trust in South East London as a Singing Teacher and Choir Leader before moving to Norfolk. She currently works with the West Norfolk Music Centre teaching singing and leading the choirs.
Matthew Preston - Choir Accompanist
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Matthew currently holds teaching positions at Wells-next-the-Sea Primary School, Alderman Peel High School, Beeston Hall School and Glebe House School where he teaches piano and theory to pupils from ages 5 to 16. In addition to his school tutoring, Matthew teaches numerous students privately in Fakenham and at student’s homes in the surrounding area. He is also the organist for the Briningham Benefice and Burnham Deepdale Church and plays the piano for weddings as part of a duo called Sea Fever.
Matthew works alongside fellow musician and teacher, Benjamin Howell, as one half of ‘The Missing Coda’, playing duets and organising music workshops and performances for students. In March 2019, Matthew and Benjamin took their ALCM Piano Duet Diploma exam and passed with distinction. Excited by this challenge, they both went onto complete their LLCM Piano Duet Diploma exam in August 2020, also passing with distinction. Benjamin and Matthew have also taken on the role of becoming Regional Organisers for EPTA Norfolk.
Jan Wilson - Chair
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Jan moved to Dersingham in 2017, attracted to this bustling village after many holiday stays in nearby Sandringham. Keen to be involved in a new area, she started new hobbies including singing and learning piano. She now takes the role of Chair.
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Glenys Owen - Treasurer
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Also new to the area, Glenys just made it here a week before lockdown and is only now emerging, just in time to become Treasurer of the new choir!
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