Parkside Singers of Ampthill
Friendship - Fun - Fulfilment. Come, Join us & Sing!
Woburn St, Ampthill,
Bedfordshire. MK45 2HX
See us on www.wherecanwego.com
Meet The Music Team
David Stott - Musical Director
David was born, raised and educated in his native Yorkshire. In 1968 he came to live and work in Luton and pursued an academic career in social science and medical statistics at the Universities of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, retiring in 2011. He has sung with choirs and played the piano for most of his life, though it is only in the recent past that he has been invited to direct local choirs. He has been involved with a Luton High School Chamber Choir and Vauxhall Male Voice Choir, but now works exclusively with the Parkside Singers. Outside music, his main interests include ballroom dancing with his wife Hilary, cooking, and golf. Their three daughters live locally and are also involved in local music including singing together as The Stott Sisters.
James Banville = Piano Accompanist/Organist
The Parkside Singers are indeed fortunate to have James as their accompanist! James is a professional pianist with many years of experience accompanying choirs and studied the organ at the Royal Academy of Music. He has held successive appointments as organist at All Saints, Parish Church of St. Mary, and currently at St Luke’s Church in Luton. James is now a full time musician and is in great demand as a concert soloist and accompanist for solo singers. A few years ago, he received the honour of being one of the few people invited to play on the famous Willis Organ at Alexandra Palace.
Viv Bruce – Assistant Musical Director
Viv owes her love of music and particularly singing to her mother who was a professional musician and encouraged Viv to develop her talents singing and playing the piano. Viv found she preferred singing and joined Blackpool Girls Choir at the age of six and has continued to regularly attend choirs and choral groups throughout her life.
Obligatory piano lessons as a child proved useful in later life accompanying the hymn singing at Milton Keynes and Bedford church services for many years.
Following her recent retirement from her role as a police officer in Bedfordshire Police, Viv is currently busy with her other passion of caring for her horses and is a part-time groom and dog walker.
Viv is very happy to have the opportunity to support Parkside Singers both as a choir member and relief musical director.
Viv married her partner Dave just recently. We wish them a very happy life together (no bum notes!)
Breege Traynor – Assistant Musical Director
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Breege was born and raised in Northern Ireland and moved to England to gain an Honours Degree, and later a Masters Degree, in Nursing at Manchester University. After a career as a Nursing Sister in cancer care, Breege joined the R&D organisation of a large biopharmaceutical company where she worked for 26 years. Prior to retirement, Breege was the Worldwide Head of Quality and Compliance for R&D.
Breege has sung from a very young age and starting singing lessons at age 12. During school years, singing at weddings was a regular weekend event and she has frequently sung in public. While working and travelling extensively left little time for singing, Breege continued with lessons and frequently competed in the solo singing classes at the annual Bedfordshire festival.
Having retired in 2018, Breege has returned to singing regularly, joining the Parkside-Singers and the Bedford Choral Society. Breege’s enthusiasm for singing and her knowledge of singing techniques, brings an additional perspective to the choir.