The Drybrook & District Ladies Choir has been a part of the Forest of Dean’s long musical tradition since 1953 - 71 years of singing. The choir enjoys learning and performing a broad, eclectic range of music, including songs from the shows, jazz, spiritual, traditional, folk, pop and modern songs. We organize and take part in numerous concerts and events, raising funds for local, national and international charities as well as taking our music into residential and nursing homes and singing at weddings.
The ladies of the choir have always enjoyed sharing concerts with instrumentalists, brass bands and choirs, both locally and while on tour. Performing with Gloucestershire based male voice, mixed voice and ladies’ choirs at Gloucester Cathedral, with The Dalesmen in Derby, and Carmarthen Male Voice Choir in Carmarthen have been particular highlights in the last few years.
Our bursary, the Margaret Rose Bursary Award (set up in memory of Margaret Burford, the niece of the choir’s founder, Fred Kettle, and conductor following Fred’s death) was the first to be set up in in the Forest, nurturing the musical talents of future generations.
The present conductor/musical director, Linda James, who has sung in the choir for over 30 years, took up the role about six years ago when Barb Wright, who had conducted for over 20 years, chose to return to singing in the alto section. She feels very privileged to be conducting such a special group of ladies who share her love of music and put up with her nagging when trying to polish a piece ready for a performance! We are accompanied by Andy Iddiols whose musical talents range from being a very accomplished church organist through to musical theatre and playing keyboard in a Fleetwood Mac tribute band.
We are always very pleased to welcome new singers to our rehearsals at Drybrook Band Room (situated off the car park behind the Pharmacy on Drybrook Road) on Wednesday evenings 7-9pm. Please see our website for more information: www.ddlc.org.uk. We can be contacted via enquiries@ddlc.org.uk or mobile number 07788912954.