Ann (soprano) and Nick Keep (tenor) have each been singing with the Royston Choral Society for around 25 years. We asked what singing with the RCS meant for them.

Did music play an important part in bringing you together?
We were both interested in music when we met. Nick used to play the trumpet a lot and then the singing took over. We have similar tastes in music although they differ a bit. We listen to each other’s music and express our opinions freely.

Cynthia says she’s been singing with the Royston Choral Society “on and off for about 8 years”. In an earlier conversation, I learnt that it’s her 30-year association with Richard Prince to which she attributes her interest in classical music.

In this musical TED Talk, Tania de Jong explains how singing is a survival mechanism, how it makes our hearts beat together and can help heal strokes and depression. With singing, and the potential she believes it has, Tania dedicates herself to enhancing and promoting ingenuity and founded Creativity Australia and Creative Universe to do so. As a leading Australian soprano and through 'With One Voice', Tania works with disadvantaged communities.

Lindsay Dew, one of the basses with RCS, lists his Desert Island Discs

Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard

Beethoven Symphony No. 6 (Pastorale) - 1st Movement 'Happy Arrival'

JS Bach - 'Air on a G string' Jacques Lousier

Wanted – musical men!

When a group of tenors and basses were asked why they enjoyed singing in the choir (apart from the obvious reason that they liked music and singing…) their answers were surprisingly diverse.

‘To have a break from the kids’
‘To de-stress after a busy day’
‘The pint in the pub afterwards’.

Desert Island Discs - Carole Kaszak, soprano

Mozart Clarinet Concerto – the perfect composition for clarinet by my favourite composer. The music expresses sheer joy, contemplation, peace, and finally, triumphant acceptance, and I performed it as part of my Graduate and Licentiate degrees which were the foundation for my music career in London for over 35 years.

My musical journey in words and pictures – Heather Howard, alto

My musical life began when I was living in Kingsley, in Cheshire, singing in St John’s Church parish choir. I was brought up in a very musical family and was encouraged to learn to read music from a young age. I must have been about eight in this 1984 photo.

Inheritance tracks – Chris Lee, tenor

At recent concerts, we’ve distributed feedback cards to find out a bit about our audience members – to help us develop ways to reach beyond our existing core of loyal supporters.

At our Barkway concert on 29 June, 38 respondents travelled 672 miles to hear us. Two people travelled more than 50 miles (probably not just for the concert!) 60% travelled less than 10 miles.

As tenor David Witty approaches his first anniversary with Royston Choral Society (RCS), we asked him about his experience so far.