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Sunday, 31 August 2008 15:23

Over the years we have had the experience of James Olsen, Michael Segal, Louisa Abraham, Serena Aylward, Tim Segal, Rebecca Segal and Tom Chapman. All have gone on to great things in their own spheres of interest: James and Serena have read music at Cambridge and Tom started doing so at York in the autumn of 2007.

All our teenage pianists have said over the years that playing for BJC (and some for BYV) has been one of the things that they’ve loved most in their musical life - and that’s saying something, when you think of all their other opportunities at school an elsewhere. The attendance by each pianist has been close to 100% over the years, after all.

James Olsen
Michael Segal
Louisa Abraham
Serena Aylward
Tim Segal
Rebecca Segal
Tom Chapman


James Olsen ↑ back


James Olsen was the first assistant director of the Junior Choir and was involved in conducting and accompanying the choir from 1995 until 1999.

In 2000 he wrote the libretto and music of a children's opera for the choir which they performed at Anerley Town Hall the same year. James subsequently read music at King's College, Cambridge, where he gained a double starred first.

After studying composition with Wolfgang Rihm in Karlsruhe, he undertook a Master's at King's College, London and a doctorate at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is currently training to be a lawyer.

 

Michael Segal ↑ back


Mike was a wonderful person to have around; enormous commitment and dedication. He made great strides in the time that he was with us. A highlight for him was playing a complicated 7-page piece by C V Stanford on Southwark Cathedral organ for the big Evensong with Amici Cantantes on Feb. 3rd, 2001.

"John taught me the piano and organ for over ten years in total and asked me at the end of 1998 if I would like to be involved in BJC. From 1999 to 2001 I accompanied the choir on the piano, taught songs, conducted and also played a few solos in concerts.

My main memories of the choir are how enthusiastic the children were, and how the main aim was that they would have fun through their music. I think the children in particular liked us allowing so many of them to do little solos, even the younger ones and the slightly less confident singers.

Personally I very much enjoyed my time with BJC and it was a great experience for me."

Louisa Abraham ↑ back

"I started helping out with the choir in 1998 as a pianist, along with Michael Segal, and remained with them until I finished school in 2001. During this time I was fortunate enough to be a part of many concerts in a number of different venues, including Southwark Cathedral (where we did Evensong), St George's in Beckenham, Beckenham Baptist Church and Beckenham Public Hall. The main works performed included Jonah-Man Jazz, Sweeney Todd and The Golden Touch (by James Olsen, former assistant director of the choir).

I greatly enjoyed my time with Beckenham Junior Choir and am pleased to see that they have gone from strength to strength since I left them 7 years ago."

 

Serena Aylward ↑ back

"I began singing with Beckenham Junior Choir when John set it up, in 1993. I thoroughly enjoyed my three years as a chorister, learning to sing a wide variety of music and performing in the termly concerts. After I left the choir, I continued singing at secondary school, and also continued my piano lessons with John, both of which led to my re-involvement as an Assistant Director, from 1999 to 2003. This valuable experience of teaching, conducting and accompanying played a large part in my musical education, which eventually led to my reading Music at Cambridge University, and on into my present vocation as a singer, conductor and singing teacher.

I truly believe that the great fun I had as a young chorister helped to foster my life-long love of music, and for that reason I will always have fond memories of my time with Beckenham Junior Choir."

Tim Segal ↑ back

Tim (the middle member of the family and John Webber's godson) offered to play for us for a few weeks when we were without a regular pianist, between Serena and Tom / Becky.

 

Rebecca Segal ↑ back

John taught Becky piano up to grade 8, and Becky played the violin up to grade 7. Becky has a great personality and was much loved by us all for her fun and enthusiasm.

"I was in the choir from about 1995 til 1999. I played solo for concerts on violin and for group instrumentals and then I joined the choir accompanying in 2003 'til 2006 when I went to university in York.

It was great to be in the choir while my brother Mike was there as accompanist. My mum always remembers one of Mikes first concerts, he accompanied my first solo of "Leaning on a Lamp-post".

It was a great experience to combine my love of music with working with the children. John offers such brilliant opportunities and its such good fun with a great mix of different types of music".

 

Tom Chapman ↑ back


Tom originally joined Beckenham Junior Choir in 1995 and left in 1999. He then returned in 2002 as a guest pianist and accompanied us in our production of Dracula by Carey Blyton. He then later returned to our team as a regular accompanist, attending our weekly practices and playing at our concerts. Tom is also an accomplished Bassoonist and a singer of high standard.

"John Webber has been a massive influence on my life. He taught me piano from a young age and introduced me to singing."

Tom achieved his Grade 8 piano in 2006, after 10 years of piano lessons with John Webber. He has now gone on to study music at York University.

“John is very good at giving opportunities. He’s amazing at building children’s confidence to perform in a friendly environment that they never thought was possible. John’s ability to organise has given children the chance to play and make music with other children of similar ages from many different schools.”

Tom believes that accompanying the choir greatly helped his piano playing as it introduced him to a wide variety of music and increased his knowledge of many different styles and techniques.

His sister, Emily has accompanied the choir as part of a musical ensemble, playing her Oboe on several occasions.

 

 
Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 November 2008 11:56 )
 

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