Sheila Farmer, the choir founder and Musical Director
Sheila Farmer is a specialist music teacher who works in four local Primary schools doing class music teaching, running school choirs and teaching piano. Sheila also teaches piano and singing in the local sixth-form college and from home.
Sheila studied Music and Welsh at Cardiff University, and is also a Licentiate of Trinity College of Music, London, an Associate of the London College of Music, and a member of the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD).
Before moving to Cornwall in 1985 Sheila directed Cor Tregŵyr (Gowerton Ladies Choir), Swansea.
For almost ten years Sheila was Musical Director of the Penzance Orpheus Ladies' Choir, and of the Marazion Apollo Male Voice Choir for three years. In 2001, with new material to try out and singers keen to join, Sheila formed the Mount's Bay Singers.
Sheila has since formed A Cappella, a mixed singing group which explores early music.
Stephen Lawry, Deputy Musical Director
Stephen has been singing since the age of 17. He sang with Newlyn Male Choir for 24 years, including 8 as
deputy conductor, and for 20 years in the Trinity Chapel Choir at Newlyn. He was a founder member of the mixed
voice Govenek Choir, which he led for 16 years, and in over 530 performances, before it disbanded.
During 2001 both Mounts Bay Singers and the male quartet 'Buccas Four' were formed, and Stephen has been in both ever since.
In 2004 Stephen became Musical Director of the Mousehole Male Voice Choir, and in 2008 also began conducting
the Penzance Orpheus Ladies Choir.
Bridgit England, Accompanist
Bridgit England is a teaching assistant at a primary school in Penzance, assisting with music lessons in the
school, and accompanying their choirs and orchestras. As a classically trained pianist she began accompanying
from an early age, playing for instrumental exams and ballet classes.
Later she moved into the world of Pop music, and has sung and played in bands with her husband for many
years, releasing records and CDs. She played for a musical company 'The Music Box' in Exeter for some years.
Bridgit joined The Mount's Bay Singers in January 2008 in time to take part in the Ireland tour.
She has recently begun church organ playing and is now a relief organist at Madron Church.