Music Team
Our Artistic Directors, Roger Humphrey and Rosemary Pennington, have led and directed Southend Choirs for over 30 years.
Both have many years of experience as professional musicians, directing choirs and choral projects with singers of all ages.
Roger and Rosemary believe that everyone can sing and are passionate that the Choirs and music education are accessible to all. They work hard to ensure that the Choirs remain free to attend and that there is no entry requirement to read music or to have had any previous music training.
Roger Humphrey
Artistic Director for Southend Choirs, Musical Director for Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs and Southend Young Men’s Chorus and Chorus Sirenum: Roger was born in Farnborough, Kent. He has always had an interest in music making, and studied organ and piano from an early age.
Roger is a graduate of the Royal College of Music, London. Roger gained his Bachelor of Music degree after studying organ, piano and conducting with Stephen Cleobury and Nicholas Danby.
He then pursued postgraduate studies in conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and was awarded his Master of Arts degree in 1993 by the City of London University.
Roger has held posts of Director of Music at Southend High School for Boys, lecturer in Performing Arts at South-East Essex College, and is currently pursuing a career as a conductor, teacher and accompanist.
Southend has supported a boys' choir since 1970, and Roger saw the need to provide a similar opportunity for girls. He founded the Southend Girls' Choir in 1988, and has nurtured its growth as its director and conductor since then. His musical life includes conducting both the boys' and girls' choirs, as well as the Southend Choral Society.
He is the Director of Music at Holy Trinity Church and accompanist to Southend Bach Choir. For many years Roger held the position of Associate Conductor of the Seychelles International Festival of Classical Music. In 2000 Roger was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. Roger was one of three musical directors who worked with 2,000 singers to perform a specially commissioned choral work to celebrate the arrival of the 2012 Olympic Torch in Southend.
Rosemary Pennington
Artistic Director for Southend Choirs, Assistant Musical Director for Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs, Southend Young Men’s Chorus and Chorus Sirenum: Rosemary was born in Southend, but lived in other parts of the UK before returning in 1985.
Rosemary is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded her degree.
After gaining a postgraduate teaching diploma, she developed a career in increasing positions in arts management.
She has worked for concert agencies in London, as a 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 the cultural development manager for Southend Borough Council.
As a pianist, Rosemary has played both as a soloist and accompanist in many major concert halls in London and beyond. She has accompanied choirs in Australia, Canada, the US, Seychelles and Europe, Including playing for televised broadcasts and recordings. She is Assistant Musical Director to the Southend Girls' Choir, and accompanist to the Southend Boys' Choir, Southend Festival Chorus and the Southend Choral Society.
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.
Janet Walker
Musical Director for Step-Up Choir.
Jan is an experienced and busy accompanist. She plays for three choirs and enjoys working with many instrumental and vocal soloists. She is the Musical Director of the Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir, having been their Accompanist for many years.
Jan’s great passion is bringing the joy of music to children and developing their skills. She has been responsible for specialist music at West Leigh Infant and Junior School. Under her guidance, the children have performed at the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Purcell Room and at St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden.
Rebecca Kent
Musical Director for Little Singers.
Bex is a soprano who studied at the London College of Music. She has a Bachelor of Music degree in performance and specialises in Opera and Classical music.
Bex was a member of Southend Girls’ Choir and has sung in a variety of famous locations including the Royal Albert Hall, Milan Cathedral, the BBC Proms and the Statue of Liberty. As well as her passion for singing she loves to also teach the flute, saxophone, clarinet, ukulele and double bass.