The Music Group at St Anne’s

Since we formed the music group just over 2 years ago, we have gone from strength to strength.   Our original number was fairly small, just two juniors and four adults, but we have grown to seventeen adults and two juniors since those early days.  At one point we had 6 children or Juniors as we like to call them, but alas, some have left as singing is not seen as being “COOL” but their friends and pier pressure leads to them leaving.  If only they could realise that the Music Group could be a stepping stone to stardom for anyone who has talent.   For its in groups like ours where the stock in trade is learned.

David Birchall Leader of the Music Group at St Anne’s

The Music Group came about when David, one of the Churchwardens at that time formed the Group and recruited our semi professional singers (Julia and Michael Carroll) firstly to perform for us and help us raise money for much needed projects – like the Scout Group and some repairs that wanted doing to the church hall and the church building and contents, but secondly to help us bring that professional element to the group and to train up our young talent locally – The Music Group Concerts were born and David leads and manages the group with Julia as Musical Director.

We have produced a number of successful shows and our professional singers are sharing their knowledge with our other group members and passing on skills in voice techniques and playing the piano.  As well as singing solos at our concerts and singing as part of the chorus of the Music Group David also sings with the Cartmel Priory Choir.

We are not just here to sing for church projects, far from it - The Music Group is happy to raise money for any good cause as long as we can cover our costs in travel and equipment and contribute to the church budget.    

But it is not just for concerts that our music can be tapped into, if you would like our professional singers at your Wedding, Birthday or Anniversary celebrations, or even when you want to say good bye to loved one’s at Funerals or Memorial Services we can provide that little bit extra with music and singing.  We will be providing a short interlude of singing at the forth coming Scarecrow Prize Giving Day on 6 th May at the St Georges Playing Fields in Haverthwaite and on the following weekend we will be back in concert mode at St Anne’s Church (click here for more details)   If you would like to know more just fill in the contact form and we will get back to you.

Julia Carroll, Soprano

Julia Carroll – Our Musical Director, Pianist and Principal Soprano

In her younger days Julia travelled extensively on the continent singing and appearing in numerous productions, later coming back to her native Liverpool where she starred in the leading role in the Sound of Music at the Liverpool Empire.  Julia trained classically on voice and piano and has a lovely sweet mezzo soprano voice, rich and mellow.

Julia teaches Piano and Coaches Voice – and students can have lessons on a regular basis by arrangement.   If you would like to know more about the lessons please complete the contact form on this website and we will get back to you.

Julia sings at Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthday’s, Funerals and Memorial Services as well as Corporate Events and her Michael and Danielle will be singing at a Private Corporate Event in May this years in the Lakes.

Michael Carroll (Tenor)

Michael Carroll – Principal Tenor

Michael originally hails from the Wirral and met Julia on her return to the UK when the production he was appearing in Carousel as leading man and they advertised for a leading lady.  The rest, as they say is history. He has a wonderfully sweet tenor voice and since joining the Music Group has brought many a tear to the eye when he has sung so well “Bring him home” from the show  Les Miserables.

Michael has played Mr Bumble in “Oliver”, Curly in Oklahoma and many other leading parts during his time with the Drama and Operatic Societies.  Julia has played Dolly in “Hello Dolly”; Maria in “The Sound of Music” to name but a few.

Michael works in Barrow and runs a department in BAE SYSTEMS when he is “Mild mannered Clark Kent” and at concerts and event he turns into our Super Tenor and delivers wonderful music.  He sings at Weddings, Funerals, Memorial Services, Birthday’s, Anniversaries, Parties and Corporate Events and as mentioned above will be performing with Julia and Danielle at a Corporate Event in May.

Danielle Louise Thomas – Mezzo Soprano (Click Here to listen to Danielle)

Danielle supports the Music Group as often as she can and has rarely missed a concert in the last 3 years and it’s always a 

Danielle Louise Thomas

pleasure to welcome her all the way from Liverpool to sing a few songs for us.   Her career is beginning to take off – she recently sang at an event for the Princess Royal in Liverpool and has appeared as a supporting act with the famous Liverpool comedian Ken Dodd. And she has appeared at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool singing a quartet with The Priests and performing solo numbers on their fund raising show for the Jospice.   

Members of the Music Group recently travelled to Liverpool to see Danielle perform with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.   SHE STOLE THE SHOW!!! 

Still in her early 20′s, Danielle has one of the most exciting voices you could ever wish to hear.  Believe me, this girl is destined for stardom, and she sings with the Music Group at St Anne’s Haverthwaite as well as top orchestra’s at the St Georges Hall Liverpool and the Liverpool Philharmonic.   If you have never heard Danielle sing, get to our next concert – you are in for a treat!  In my humble opinion she has a better voice than Katherine Jenkins and many of the other young stars around.

Danielle has supported our Music Group from the inception and its fantastic that we can have voices appearing locally like Michael, Julia and Danielle along with a tired old busker like me!     We are all looking forward to the next performance even though it will soon be with us.   We certainly hope to see you there – Good Fun, lots of great singing and a darn good natter.

The Music Group Singers    (Updated photo to follow)

The Music Group Singers are the “Corps de Ballet” of the whole thing.   They vary in age from 12 years to…. – well let’s not go there… or some of the Ladies will be taking me to task eh!

Voices range from Soprano to Bass Baritone and from “good singers to those who like to make a noise joyfully” but to us, it is all about having fun and enjoying yourself – while at the same time doing good things in your community and beyond.   The Chorus of singers now numbers 17 plus 2 juniors and we are growing.    

We are short on Tenor’s and Bass voices so if any of you reading this would like to get involved fill in the form below.  You don’t have to audition, just come and join in.   There is no annual membership – we all pay £2.00 per week which goes towards buying sheet music and bits of equipment as and when needed.  Click here to find out more about our next Gig

If you would like to join us for any or all of our sessions please or want to finds out how you can book our professional singers for an event fill in the form below……

Comments or questions are welcome.