About us
Paul Hayward - Musical Director
Paul Hayward (b.1984) is an experienced musician, having performed as an organist and accompanist for many years. Following two cathedral assistant organist posts and a similar post at a public school, Paul decided to concentrate on choral music as a composer and conductor. He is undertaking postgraduate studies in composition with the renowned Royal Wedding composer Professor Paul Mealor at the University of Aberdeen.
As a conductor, Paul has worked with a variety of choral and instrumental ensembles of different ages and abilities, from conducting a youth choir to training cathedral choristers, working with chamber choirs and choral societies, as well as instrumental ensembles. He has also led several successful workshops and “come and sing” events for choirs. He currently directs the Ruddington and District Choral Society with the Ruddington Chamber Ensemble in Nottinghamshire, as well as the Old Dalby Singers and Coalville Male Voice Choir. Paul studied choral conducting with Peter Broadbent and Neil Ferris on the Association of British Choral Directors' course for advanced conductors, resulting in the award of the LRSM in choral direction, and has recently conducted a variety of works including Purcell’s Dido and Aenas, Bach’s Magnificat, Vaughan Williams’ Five mystical songs and Hadyn’s Nelson Mass.
As a composer, Paul is published by Chichester Music Press as well as making a number of smaller compositions, arrangements and editions available for free via his website. His works have been performed around the UK and abroad. His setting of Binyon’s words For the fallen was sung at the Nottingham Civic Service of Remembrance in November 2017.
Further information can be found on his website: www.paulhayward.org
Michael Overbury - Accompanist
Michael Overbury's early musical influences centred on Farnham and London. At his local Church he was introduced to the glories of the English liturgical tradition, his organ teacher Stephen Thomson also inspiring in him a love of the harpsichord. The Farnham Festivals provided opportunity for Michael to give a number of first performances on solo piano, some recorded and broadcast by the BBC, including works by Richard Rodney Bennett, John Dankworth, and Leonard Bernstein. A letter received from Bernstein includes the following "The boy is marvellous, a natural." These formative experiences were complemented by Saturday mornings at Trinity College of Music, London, where he held a Junior Exhibition. An Organ Scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he read music and studied the organ with Gillian Weir, was followed by harpsichord tuition with Kenneth Gilbert. After graduating he was successively, an assisting organ scholar at King's College, Cambridge, Assistant Organist at New College, Oxford, a deputy organist at St Alban's Abbey, and Master of the Song School at Newark. After winning First Prize in the 1982 Manchester International Organ Competition, he appeared twice as soloist at the Royal Festival Hall, and in countless other venues. Michael is a founder member of Mvsica Donvm Dei, playing on period instruments, with whom he appeared live on Radio Three's In Tune. Michael is also keyboardist for the chamber trio Continuum, with whom he has performed at Handel House. He has for many years written reviews for the Organists' Review. He has a number of mainly liturgical compositions published, which have been warmly received.
Visit the choir Facebook group page.
Information for new members relating to RDCS rehearsals, concerts, etc.
Rehearsals
(i) Times and Venues
The choir rehearses between September and the following May, with breaks for Christmas, Easter and half term holidays. They take place on Monday evening are held at Ruddington Methodist Church, 38 Church St, Ruddington, NG11 6HD. Rehearsal times are 7.15pm – 9.15pm with a short break.
(ii) Music
Music is available on a loan basis at the start of each term, when a token amount will be charged to cover hire costs. Any profit goes into choir funds. After concerts music needs to be returned with as much of your pencil markings as possible rubbed out.
(iii) Refreshments
Members may bring refreshments to rehearsals to have during the break.
Concerts
(i) Times and Venues
Concerts are held towards end of the Autumn Term and at the end of the Spring Term. Every two years we do a ‘Come and Sing Messiah’ which takes place before Christmas. Frequently we sing carols as part of the Ruddington Christmas Market, which is very popular with the singers and those who come to listen!
The venue for most of our concerts is St Peter’s (Parish) Church, where an afternoon rehearsal is held on the day, usually from 1.30pm – 4.00pm. Choir members need to be at the church at 7.10pm in time for the 7.30pm concert.
(ii) Concert Dress
This is formal for the Winter concert but less formal if there is a lighter Spring programme.
Formal dress for men:
- Black DJ and trousers
- White shirt
- Black bow tie (The bow tie and shirt colour might change for a less formal concert).
Formal wear for women:
- Long black skirt/trousers
- Black long-sleeved blouse with collar
- Choir scarf, on loan to the choir for the duration of membership. If you leave the choir please make sure the scarf is returned.