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Robert Lloyd
Honorary President



Robert Lloyd was born in Essex and educated at Oxford University. He began life as an academic historian, turning to a singing career at the age of 28. In 1972 he was appointed Principal Bass at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he sings an enormous repertoire; at the same time he has developed a freelance operatic and concert career which has brought him to work with all the major Opera Houses and Orchestras throughout the world.

Roger Humphrey
Musical Director



Roger Humphrey - studied Organ, Piano, and conducting at the Royal College of Music, where he gained a degree of Bachelor of Music and was awarded his master of Arts degree at City of London University in 1993. He has held positions of Director of Music at Southend High School for Boys, and lecturer in Performing Arts at South East Essex College. Roger is conductor of the Southend Choral Society, Director of Music at Holy Trinity Church, Southchurch, and accompanist to the Southend Bach Choir. He is also founder of the Southend Girls Choir, and a Director of the Southend Summer School for Performing Arts. Roger was appointed Director of the Southend Boys Choir in 1996 by the Southend Borough Council. In January 2000 Roger was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for services to Music and the Arts.

Rosemary Pennington
Accompanist



Rosemary Pennington was born in Southend, but lived in other parts of the UK before returning in 1985.

She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded her degree. After gaining a postgraduate teaching diploma, she developed a career in arts management. Rosemary  has worked for concert agencies in London, as personal assistant to the Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, and has worked freelance as a concert manager for festivals and concert halls.

She is currently cultural development manager for Southend Borough Council. As a pianist, Rosemary has played both as soloist and accompanist in many major concert halls in London and beyond. She has accompanied choirs in Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, Seychelles and Europe, including playing for televised broadcasts and recordings. Currently she is Assistant Musical Director to the Southend Girls' Choir, and accompanist to the Southend Boys' Choir and the Southend Festival Chorus.

Rosemary was one of three musical directors who worked with 2,000 singers to showcase the choral work heralding the arrival of the 2012 Olympic Torch in Southend.