People
Richard Emms, B.Mus., A.R.C.M., L.R.A.M.
Richard's early musical life was largely self-taught, beginning with the piano, and quickly learning a wide concert repertoire. By the age of 18, his musical imagination was fired by Beethoven in particular, playing all the piano sonatas. As an education student, his gift for composition emerged in parallel with that of conducting, and he was invited to rehearse the college choir.
During his formal musical training at Birmingham University, while specialising in composition, Richard continued to conduct ad hoc choirs and orchestras. Over the years his range of conducting has included everything from prize-winning primary school choirs to forming 'scratch' choirs and orchestras to perform major choral works, with all the joyous hurly-burly that this entails!
Richard and his family settled in Shipston in 1975. Conscious of the need for further musical life in the community, he formed a small choir, which quickly grew to a full and flourishing choral society,the Stour Singers. He retired from school teaching in 1995, and in 1997 founded Cantamus, which allows him to indulge and share his particular love for a cappella choral music.
Much of his musical life revolves around the choirs, and the members of Stour Singers find themselves both stretched and fulfilled in responding to his direction, as his gift for teaching enables them to explore the music and its context. With his wide knowledge of the choral repertoire and his considerable skill and experience as a conductor, he has been able to introduce the choir to much of the standard repertoire, and in addition satisfying and moving works which are seldom performed.
Richard has continued to compose and perform chamber music, works including piano sonatas, sonatinas for a variety of instruments, a clarinet quartet and two quintets etc. Recently his interests have turned to arrangements for choir.
Vic Twyman, Choir Manager
Vic Twyman has been involved in music administration most of his life. While at medical school he was Student Secretary of London University Musical Society directed by Dr. C. Thornton Lofthouse, the celebrated continuo player .Then having settled in medical practice in Newark, Notts. he chaired Newark Music Club for seven years, was a member of the original committee of Southwell Choral Society, and founder chairman of Newark & District Arts and Leisure Association which established the now thriving Palace Theatre. Vic has served on the music advisory panels of Newark Technical College, (which was unique in having a Violin Making School, Woodwind Technology and Piano Tuning Departments), East Midlands Arts and on Regional committees of the N.F.M.S., now Making Music.
As Director of Community Music at Newark Parish Church, Vic was founder producer/director of Newark's Festival of Christmas Music for 25 years and he is pleased to be part of Stour Singers and Cantamus which both serve this rural community in South Warwickshire.