Musical Director - James W Morgan
Born in Willenhall in 1952, James W. Morgan, studied at the Huddersfield School of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and Indiana State University, the first of many educational visits to the USA, which included a year’s teaching on a Fulbright Scholarship. He became Head of Music at King James’ School, Almondbury in 1982, the same year that he took over the Holme Valley Singers (Choir – as it then was) from Alan Simmons. Helping the choir to achieve its many successes were three fantastic accompanists – Simon Murray, Sue Ogden and Jane Robertson, to whom he owes undying thanks.
In 1988 he went to Holmfirth High School as Director of Music and spent the rest of his teaching career there. His performing experience include the Hallé Orchestra, the Black Dyke Mills Band and the Mastersingers, for whom he still drums, sings, writes and co-directs. He also sings bass in the Choir of Christ Church, New Mill, has recorded at Abbey Rd, conducted at the Royal Albert Hall and Directed the Daily Service for BBC Radio 4, with Mastersingers and HVS.
In 1990, he founded the Holme Valley Orchestra.
He has done vocal workshops for both Sing for Pleasure and the National Association of Choirs and has also conducted Colne Valley MVC and both Brighouse and Rastrick Band and the Black Dyke Band.
James has collaborated with local composer Barry Russell on many occasions, resulting in successful performances at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the National Festival of Music for Youth and the Schools Prom.
He continues to compose and arrange and tries to eak out a few sheckles from www.morganmusic.co.uk. Although he retired from the Holme Valley Orchestra in 2021 he took over the Directorship of Gledholt Male Voice Choir, joining up back up with Jane Robertson for another wonderful collaboration.
Exciting times ahead.
Accompanist - Jane Robertson
Jane Robertson, a graduate of the Royal College of Music, is a well-established accompanist and teacher of the pianoforte.
Well known on the concert platform Jane is an official accompanist for The Mrs Sunderland Music Festival and she regularly accompanies singers and instrumentalists for exams, diplomas, recitals and international competitions including the BBC Young Musician.
In 2023 she was invited as Guest Accompanist for the International Women’s Choral Festival in Peterborough.
As a freelance accompanist she has worked with soloists and ensembles at the Royal Northern College of Music, Leeds College of Music and Huddersfield University as well as making recordings and broadcasting live for regional television.
Jane also performs as a soloist and has undertaken several solo concerto engagements, Mendelssohn’s 2nd Piano Concerto being a particular favourite.
An accompanist with The Mastersingers, Jane currently also works with three choirs in West Yorkshire, those being Huddersfield Choral Youth Choirs, Gledholt Male Voice Choir and Honley Ladies Choir.
