The Orwell Singers - Member Organisations

The Orwell Singers

The Orwell Singers were established in Ipswich in 1993. They are a ladies choir of twenty-four members who enjoy singing a wide variety of music ranging from madrigals and light classical pieces to easy-listening numbers and folk songs.

The choir performs two concerts a year, one in December and one in July, at St Michael’s Church, Martlesham Heath. The choir also performs at weddings, festivals, charity concerts and parties. Over the years the choir has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Wales.

The choir’s Musical Director is Lindsay Blay (also known as soprano Lindsay Gowers) who grew up in Suffolk acquiring her love of singing and music making from Olive Quantrill, the eponymous founder of the Olive Quantrill Singers, and benefitting from the expert teaching skills of Gloria Wilson, the former musical director of the Orwell Singers. She went on to study at London University and the Royal Academy of Music where she won the Mozart prize, received second prize at the National English Song Award, and also studied at the Britten Pears School.
She has worked as a singer for many years, performing in venues across the UK, and has also worked with the BBC Singers. More recently she is a member of the visiting music staff at Ipswich School. Lindsay has conducted several choirs and ensembles including a 70 strong girls’ choir and the ensemble Capella Nova, formerly of Amberfield School, directing them in performances at Snape Maltings, on BBC Radio Suffolk and Radio 4, and with the vocal group Blake on their UK tour.

If you are interested in joining the choir, or if you would like us to sing for you, contact the secretary: Debbie Sharman.  Tel:  01473 635955  or email:  d.sharman@btinternet.com