ABOUT US
A Spotlight on Jennifer Morton -Cantabile's
Musical Director
Jennifer Morton
Jennifer Morton
(Musical Director) was born in Bolton,
Lancashire. She reached ABRSM Final Grade 8 piano and has sung in
operatic groups and choirs, both female and mixed voice all her
life, first as an alto, then a soprano and soloist. She realised an
ambition, later in life, to have her voice trained and gave several
concerts for charity.
Although she was essentially a modern languages
teacher, she taught music and singing for a while at a preparatory
school in Hampshire. In 2003 she retired to Spain with her husband,
Nick, and joined Cantabile. In 2006, she became Assistant
Musical Director then Director in November 2007. Apart from
arranging most of the choir’s songs,
Jennifer has written
Cantabile’s theme song, Cantamos Cantabile, a habanera,
Flor Habanera, and a carol, The Nativity.Jennifer
sings as a choir member and soloist in the chamber choir Chorale
and also with Vivace Classical Mixed Voice Choir
Nataliya
Khomyak
(accompanist)
Nataliya Khomyak
(accompanist) is from the Ukraine. She trained with many
prestigious music teachers and graduated as a piano teacher and
choral director from Drogovich and Lviv Conservatories. She taught
in an Infants’ School for 8 years, then in the State Conservatory in
Drogovich for a further 15 years.
She has lived in Torrevieja for 8
years and has accompanied many soloists, such as violinist, Pepe Mena, baritone, Victor Bukharev, tenor, Derek Francis, and soprano,
Maureen Roberts, as well as playing for several local Spanish and
international choirs: Vivace, Coro Pilar, Chorale and of course,
Cantabile. Now she is playing with the ArsAEtheria Symphony
Orchestra.
Nataliya
and her sister, Nadiya, train the local Ukrainian Association youth
singing groups: Girasol and Corona de Flores.
Ann Horsfall Webmaster
Like many more choir members
from any choir I was in the school choir and that is the extent of
my singing career. We arrived here about seven years ago, and
decided I needed to get involved with something. So I started doing
karaoke, it’s a wonder they didn’t chuck me out. I was terrible. and
absolutely terrified. My hands shook (and you can’t hide them) in
fact my whole body shook. This was someone who never put their hand
up in class. And wouldn’t say boo to a goose as the saying goes. I
took a lot of flack which hurt a lot, but being a Yorkshire lass
(I’ve got broad shoulders) I just got on with it.
It did give me
confidence to open my mouth and if it wasn’t right It wasn’t the
end of the world I just learnt to do it better. However I
persevered, practiced, listened to the choir masters and now I’m in
three choirs including a Spanish Ladies Choir, which I love. I took
some piano lessons where I learnt to read music. I am now taking
singing lessons.
So now I just enjoy my
retirement. (at least I would enjoy it if I had time) and as for the
computer I barely new how to switch it on last year.
Eve Day
I landed in Spain on January 2nd.
2003 and at last plucked up the courage to fulfill a long held
ambition to join a Choir, which turned out to be ‘Cantabile.’ After
a nerve-racking audition I was allotted a place in the Sopranos in
October 2003. When you’re in a Choir you are often asked what
previous experience you’ve had and all I could say was ‘None at all,
except over the kitchen sink and singing along to the radio and
records’ (as they were called in my younger days). I was aware that
I possibly had a decent voice, in tune anyway, but life gets in the
way of hobbies.
Since being involved with Cantabile I’ve looked back
over my life and realize I owe my musical interest and knowledge to
my Parents, who both played Piano, my Mum also played the Violin. I
remember her playing ‘Salut Di Amour’ by Elgar.
I went on to Rochester Grammar
School for Girls and ended up in the choir, but for some reason was
in the Alto section. I suppose I lacked the confidence to sing up in
those days, but I was always envious of the girls who got to sing
Soprano solos. That’s were my musical career ended apart from a
stint having Piano lessons which taught me to read music, but not to
play the Piano, so I gave up. I did, however, sing alone with my Dad
at home, as he loved to play Ivor Norvello’s music and I’ve already
said I ‘Sang Along’ all my life until Cantabile.
Kay Reeves
Treasurer.
I was born in Derbyshire in the early nineteen
fifties and since then have been a wife, mother, grandmother,
nursery teacher and teacher of young children with special needs.
Music has run through my life and work, as a retired
and disabled person
in Spain looked to music to fill the
void left when I was forced to give up work.
Singing with Cantabile has not only
given me an enjoyable pastime but also introduced me to a wide
circle of lovely ladies from many different backgrounds. My
enjoyment increases as my musical knowledge grows and the challenges
of taking part in concerts keeps me mentally and physically active.
I thoroughly enjoy both rehearsing and
performing and I am pleased to be able to support the choir by
acting as treasurer.
Sharon Davies
I arrived in Spain early September
2007 and joined Cantabilesingers
the following year in June. I sang at school. The Ernest Read School
Choir, Royal Albert Hall and The Festival Hall in London. My sister
who has sung in Goldsmith Choral Society for35 years, suggested that
I should join a choir in Spain, it would be good fun and a way of
meeting people.
I met a nieghbour Jan who
was in Cantabile and she brought me along to a choir practice, after
which I listed to a couple of concerts before committing myself. The
rest is history I like singing with a choir like Cantabile as it is
small and I have got to know most of the members, also as an alto we
get together every Wednesday to practice, which has helped
immensely I find singing very energizing and also uplifting,
especially in church. music has enriched my life.
Geaninne de Broeas de Lanause
I arrived in Spain in 1978 and
joined Cantabile Singers in 2003. Before coming to Spain. I sang in 3 Belgium choirs and
have done extensive studies in piano and organ music, Chamber of
Music etc. I took part in many concerts in Hungary and France. In
Ashford, Paris and Holland I played the
Requiem on the
organ.
I joined Cantabile after seeing
them in a concert at the Palacio de la Musica in Torrevieja. It was
a very enjoyable program and they had very good voices. Music is an
important part of my life it means everything to me.
June
Saunders
I
came to Spain in October 2005 and joined Cantabile Singers in
September. 2009. I
have never received any formal musical training but have sung at
family “Do’s”, at school, and in local amateur groups from a very
early age. It wasn’t until after I had my family in 1981 that I
joined a ladies choir locally in Kent with whom I sang for many
years, enjoying concerts and festivals locally, nationally and even
internationally.
Having retired to live in Spain in 2005 it took several years to
settle down and look to singing again. Attending various local
concerts brought me to choose “Cantabile” who were performing my
type of music and with whom I felt I could fit in.I believe I need the adrenaline of singing and am certain the tough
times in my life would have been much harder to overcome without the
benefit of music and hearing the wonderful sounds that can emanate
from the human voice singing in harmony.
Alicia
Muddle
I came to Spain in April 2005 and joined Cantabile in In the summer
of 2006. Attending the school choir from 11 to 14yrs. and nothing
since then.
I enjoy listening to all types of music and wanted to meet
like minded people. I like singing in a choir like
Cantabile and it has given me the chance to learn a new skill and being a
small choir, I have built up friendships with many of the other
members.
The music we perform is varied and challenges us to read
and understand musical scores. I enjoy the chance to perform both
with the choir and on my own and many of the more experienced
members offer support. The musical director is very patient and
ensures that we are all happy and confident before a performance,
building on our strengths, praising our success and helping us
strive to improve. Our pianist is also very accomplished and brings
our pieces to life.
Every day, music is becoming more important in my life and this is
what it brings to my life:
Peace; relaxation; happiness; a chance to express myself through
song and I hope the ability to give enjoyment to an audience. Above
all, for me time stands still when I am caught up in a song, all the
hard work and effort is worth it when everything comes together and
the music takes on a life of it's own touching the hearts and souls
of all involved.
Jan Robson
St. John’s
Church of England , Wimbledon from 1956/1961 although I went missing
from home aged three and was found in the church and told my mum
this was my church an I wanted to stay. I worshipped in the church
was confirmed and sang in the choir until I moved to the isle of
Sheppey I joined the isle of Sheppey singers in 1970 and started
with stand up concerts in the halls and churches, toured
residentical homes, danced and took some leading roles in musicals,
another member and myself choreographed a show, I spent many happy
years with them and grew in confidence to eventually to be able to
sing solo. I left in 2001 only because my husband and I came to live
in Spain
What led
me to join Cantabilesingers, I missed singing so much when I moved
to Spain and friends of ours from Sheppey came to live nearby and
Denise and I decided to look for a local choir. We saw the advert in
the paper and came along, I’m so glad we did. Cantabilesingers is a
great choir and Jennifer is the best MD. I love the camaraderie
everyone is so friendly and we all encourage each other I love to
hear all the parts coming together and the lovely sound when we get
it right., it gives me a buzz. music has always been in my soul
since I was a little girl I was always singing around the house. It
gets right into my heart , I’ve always got a song going round in my
head even when I wake up in the morning.
Kitty McLachlan
We moved to Spain over 10 years ago and one of
the first friends I made was a lady who sang in Cantabile. I had
always enjoyed singing but the only experience I had was singing in
the chorus of the local Gilbert & Sullivan Society many years
before. My friend suggested that I come along with her to see what
it was all about. I went with her to a choir practice meeting and
everyone was so pleasant, open and friendly that I decided to join
there and then. Then followed a short audition and I was in. That
was in 2002. Since then there have been many changes in the musical
make-up around Torrevieja. New choirs, both mixed, Barber Shop and
very serious have sprung up but I have always remained with
Cantabile for several reasons but mainly because I now know all the
choir members and I enjoy the type of songs we sing. I have lost
count of the number of concerts we have given, but we are always
well received and under the musical directorship of Jennifer Norton
we have gone from strength to strength.
There have been many “firsts” for Cantabile,
which are all memorable in their own way, but the ones which most
stick in mind are when we were invited to sing “Haberneras on the
Beach”. Then we were given the honour by its composer (??) de la
Fuente to sing his song “Torrevieja”. which we sang in the church
and were given a standing ovation by the Spanish public. This
brought tears to my eyes. Our latest “first” took place recently
when we were invited to sing with the Mexican National Ballet at
their concert in the Torrevieja Teatro de Musica. Any advice I would
give is to come along and enjoy the wonderful experience of singing
in a small but friendly ladies choir.
Pat Yardley
I came to Spain in ay 1992.
Living in Calpe, Villajayosa and Crevillente. I joined Cantabile
Singers in July 2011.
My musical experience to date is
a Ladies Choir, Operatic Society, Rugby Theatre Singers and Theatre.
In Spain with The English Choir,
Orfean de Javea, Vivace, Moraira Church Choirand Crescendo Choir.
I joined Cantabile Singers as I
practically enjoyed the concert at La Siesta Church in June. I had
lots of encouragement to join. Also I enjoy all the aspects of
choral singing I particularly like the challenge. I have always
wanted to sing and especially enjoy the harmony
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