On Friday 17 January 2025 at 7:30pm Meridian Music will be visiting Edes House in Chichester. It will be presenting a showcase of internationally acclaimed and locally associated talent, including soprano Lesley Jane Rogers, visiting Canadian tenor Lenard Whiting, bass baritone Martin Elliott and Bulgarian pianist Valentina Seferinova. They will be supported by Emsworth Meridian Singers in what promises to be a musical extravaganza celebrating the completion of restoration work of historical Edes House.
Choir Director Louise Russell talks about herself.
“I taught myself up to the age of 7, then had lessons for a year and then taught myself from the basic technical information absorbed, to the age of 11 – and then after finding a good teacher, I progressed from there. I played in concert at school and in examinations – but after leaving school and working for five years I took up the piano again and started working towards LRAM.
“The shock, as an adult, of returning to performing in public was horrific, bearing in mind how natural I had been previously. From this experience, I vowed to overcome this issue and at the same time help and inspire others to do the same. “I went to University in Chichester – then known as WSIHE (West Sussex Institute of Higher Education) – and once I gained my degree in Music and Related Arts (which was the only degree on offer then that related to Music), I embarked on a Community Programme to facilitate others to overcome performance nerves and to gain confidence generally. Colin Peters was my mentor.
“I went on to study piano with Valentina Seferinova and currently work very closely with Valentina, and I studied voice with international soprano Alison Pearce and Bass Baritone Martin Elliott.
“I now teach music and piano. I have a wealth of experience working with students of all ages and level of abilities. I aim to make music lessons accessible and fun for everyone.
“For piano, my favourite composers are Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn and Schubert. They’ve all got their own tuneful, sometimes flamboyant styles, yet many of their pieces ae not hard to play.
“For singing works, I especially like songs written as duets with clarinet. I love sung music from all ages, from Dowland through to Wagner, Schumann and Mendelssohn. I focus on improving breathing technique when doing my singing lessons. This can deal with nerves and enable the singer to move into an “altered” state, thereby slowing themselves down.
“Outside of teaching, I am keen to provide opportunities for talented musicians to perform, and that’s one reason why I’m secretary and treasurer of the Bognor Regis Music Club.
“The Music Club was founded in the 1970s and is fast approaching its 50th anniversary. It currently meets at the Regis School of Music, a comfortable venue with a great acoustic. It’s got a fabulous programme of events for members and visitors alike, and attracts a lot of younger people especially to its members’ evenings, where they can perform within a supportive environment. The club’s programme brings together the best local musical talent alongside both established and emerging professional artists. There’s something for everyone. Our season opens with ‘Perfect Piano’ on 19 October comprising three young pianists. On 15 February there is a Vocal Masterclass with Susan Legg. Check out our website or pick up a copy of our colour brochure for more information.”
Meridian Music
https://www.emsworthmeridianmusic.co.uk
Bognor Regis Music Club
https://bognorregismusic.org.uk
