Basses

Robert Chadburn

Robert is an enthusiastic amateur singer from Broadway, Worcestershire. His musical upbringing was with the Staffordshire County Youth Orchestra as a trumpet player, which he claims greatly helped his sight-reading when he came to singing almost thirty years later! Since joining Philomusica in 2004 he has already taken the baritone roles in both the Duruflé and Fauré Requiems. Having been with a number of singing teachers previously, Robert is now studying with Linda Parsons , and he is developing his love of English music, Vaughan Williams in particular. Robert is also a member of the Evesham madrigal group, Musyck Anon, which performs chiefly 16th - 17th century music in many local venues, frequently in period costume. When not singing, Robert spends his professional time training actuaries with a small education company based in Abingdon.

David Parsons

David originates from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire and has performed in many venues in and around the Three Counties including Gloucester Cathedral, Worcester Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey, Cheltenham Town Hall and Pershore Abbey. He has a large repertoire ranging from the Bach Passions to Vaughan Williams although his particular love is the music of Sir Edward Elgar. He began his vocal studies with David Backhouse, whilst still at school, and continued with Barry Faber at the Cheltenham Music Centre. He is currently studying with John Mitchinson and Linda Parsons and has fortunate enough to take part in a number of Masterclasses, one with the famous British soprano, Rae Woodland, Sarah Walker and Roderick Williams. His repertoire include Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony and The Five Mystical Songs, Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's The Creation, the parts of Judas and Jesus in Elgar's The Apostles & Peter in Elgar's The Kingdom and many other works. As well as singing with Philomusica David is a member of the quartet, The Songbards and the vocal ensemble One over the Eight.

Derek Taylor

Derek has sung in choirs throughout his life. He went to Brentwood School, Essex where there was a strong musical tradition. He sang as a soloist in the chapel choir which had the honour of singing several services at St Paul's when the Cathedral choir was on tour; he has also sung at St Albans and Canterbury. The school choir also sang with the town choral society. While at London University he sang with the Royal College of Music mixed choir. He has been a member of several societies and joined Philomusica some eight years ago. His other musical interest is making and playing brass instruments. Recently he has taken a deeper interest in the valveless natural or "Baroque trumpet", The trumpet he plays is one he constructed himself from brass sheet using traditional methods. It is a replica of an instrument by Hanns Hainlein from 1632 - the original is in the Munchener Stadtmuseum. Derek also plays and sings with the Midlands Early Music Forum.