Stone Choral Society
People
Musical Director
Harriet Johnson
Born in Staffordshire, Harriet was brought up in a highly musical family thus fuelling her great passion for music. She began singing at a very early age and has always sung with many choirs including the English Concert Singers. It is through her choral training that she has developed as a concert singer, performing in choirs and as a soloist at venues all across the country including The Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall and National Indoor Arena.
In recent years Harriet has taken a special interest in anatomy and physiology of the voice and is a prime advocator of vocal health and safe singing. She continues her own development as a singer and singing teacher at The Royal Academy of Music in London, where she has the privilege of training under some of the best voice specialists in the world.
Since graduating from the department of music at The University of Sheffield, Harriet has been teaching singing and music in schools and colleges throughout Staffordshire and Yorkshire. She was a resident teacher of singing and music at SLP College, a specialist Performing Arts college in Leeds for a number of years but has recently accepted a new post as Lecturer in Music, in North Staffordshire.
In 2006 Harriet took a conducting post with The University of Sheffield Singers’ Society, directing the society’s Small Groups, Socii Cantorum and the Ladies Choir. Both choirs are young, thriving and successful and are highly acclaimed performers for the University and South Yorkshire.
Her role as a choral director has led to her working a number of exciting projects for TV and Radio including the BBC and ITV. On such projects she works as a director, vocal coach and music advisor.
Harriet is delighted to be working with Stone Choral Society and is looking forward to returning to her home county.
Visit HarrietJohnson.co.uk
Deputy Musical Director
Stuart Johnson
Stuart Johnson is the Deputy Musical Director at Stone Choral Society. Stuart’s long musical career has involved lecturing in Northumberland, playing in the band of the King’s Dragoon Guards and finally becoming Head of the Staffordshire Music Service.
Stuart has had extensive experience as adjudicator, examiner and conductor of choirs and bands.
He has published over 80 pieces of music, mostly for wind orchestras and brass bands.
Accompanist
Jennifer Hames
Jenny is an accomplished pianist, violinist, teacher and composer based in Stone, Staffordshire. Since completing her Master’s degree in composition at Keele University Jenny has had many CD and Vinyl releases and has also written music for theatre and television.
As a pianist she works with many Staffordshire choirs, currently including Stone Choral Society, The Daleian Singers, Cor Bach, Cantiamo and Chetwynd Choral Society.
As a soloist Jenny specialises in Czech music, in particular the works of Martinu and Janáček. Jenny is passionate about education and teaches children and adults of all ages and abilities, also accompanying instrumental examinations, A-Level music assessments and university degree recitals.