The Lea Singers represent an eclectic mix of musical backgrounds, ages and day jobs.  These profiles should give you a flavour.

ANDY PENKETH (tenor)
I sang in choirs throughout school and university and after a long break, took some singing lessons and auditioned for the Lea Singers in February 2011.  I also play piano and write and produce songs in particular for musical theatre.

I joined in the 50th “Jubilea” year and therefore had the privilege of singing under the direction of many current and former Lea Singers musical directors who returned for a special end of year concert.  The Lea Singers are now my second family and I couldn’t wish for a more friendly and professional group of singers.

JAMES REVELEY (tenor)
Having been known as “James the Bass” at school, my university singing teacher broke the news gently to me that I was becoming a Tenor. In this guise, I sang my way through my music degree at Goldsmiths’ and joined its Contemporary Music Ensemble and Chamber Choir. I also joined the University of London Orchestra (as a percussionist) and its Chorus. I enjoy stage musicals and have been in several amateur shows – MD-ing a couple – but my particular loves are English Cathedral music and 20thC French choral writing.  I’ve just marked ten years with the Lea Singers (2011) and look back rehearsals full of laughter and concentration. The Bach St. John Passion and Duruflé Requiem concerts stand out for me, as does the way we made Handel’s Messiah utterly sparkle. Post-rehearsal conversations in the Cross Keys and weekends away have been the icing on the cake.

HUGO BEARDSALL (tenor intern 2010)
My first really clear musical memory was when I was seven and joined the St Albans Cathedral Choir. I think it dawned on me that I could actually sing when I was asked to sing the treble solo in Elijah in Westminster Cathedral at the age of 12. On my iPod I have everything from R’n'B to dance music, with some folk and classical thrown in for good measure. I think A level revision goes really well with heavy rock. Leas highlights? My internship has helped me become inspired by singing again.

INGA WEST (soprano)
My love of music began unpromisingly with the cacophony of class recorder lessons, age 5. I took piano lessons, learned to play the cornet in the local silver band (trying not to get trampled by the bass drum player, who could not see a diminutive nine year old me over the top of his seemingly enormous drum during Remembrance Sunday marches).  I also sang in the local church choir, where we used to giggle through the sermons behind the choir stalls in our stiff white collars, and get paid 20p for weddings.  At senior school we were glared at by our very scary choir master if we didn’t watch ALL the time.  It was there that I learned that all Italian markings should be translated as “Watch the conductor”.   School orchestras and a half decent jazz band followed, as did a few wedding gigs and the odd session in pit orchestras for local amateur operatic societies. By university, music began to lose the edge in the competition between sport and music and I only managed the odd choral outing. But by Law College, I returned to singing as a minor back injury put paid to my sporting career.  Later I started work in London and joined the City of London Choir until my children arrived on the scene.  After ten years of singing mostly nursery rhymes and church hymns, a return to more challenging singing and the child-free social life a choir offers beckoned.  I joined the Leas for the Christmas Concert in 2009 and immediately felt welcome and at home.

Memorable Leas Moments? Two short years but already so many moments: Monteverdi Vespers at St Johns Smith Square has to be a highlight – singing alongside such amazing musicians and soloists was such a privilege.  The Winchester Cathedral trip for the atmosphere (I hope!) we created, and the great sense of camaraderie that existed even after about 15 hours of singing and 4 services in under 36 hours. The Victoria Requiem with Madeleine Lovell will also stick in my mind for a long time.  But most of all it is just the enjoyment of making good music with like-minded,. enthusiastic, fun and able musicians.

KAREN CARDY (alto)
I made my first public appearance singing at Butlins (age 4), then learnt violin from 11 onwards. Formative musical experiences range from ‘Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ to playing in Beds County Youth Orchestra under the baton of the amazing Michael Rose. Joined the Lea Singers aged 17. Completed a  Music in the Community Dip HE at Dartington College of Arts, and a performing arts degree at Newcastle. Played in Forest Philharmonic, and sang in Lea Singers, and occasionally with the Woodmansterne Singers ad hoc. Have a career in classical music: Faber Music, BBC Proms and now at LSO and LSO St Luke’s. Debbie Miles Johnson is my singing teacher, and once a month makes me feel really pampered.

Memorable Leas moments? Best concert: St John Passion sung in German under Madeleine Lovell at St John’s, Boxmoor, Hemel 2008. We could hardly believe how good it sounded! Altos singing Abba at a fundraiser, and the many happy hours spent practising our smoove moves. Spine-tingling cathedrals. New commissions: I’ll let you in to a secret (I’m really proud of the Bingham). Alto sectionals at Asa Mann’s house in Redbourn, singing at her ‘round’ table. Love ‘em! Tours: singing in the amphitheatre in Vicenza, never-ending wine-tastings in Alzey and Cosnes, and swimming in Stockholm.

MIRIAM MCKAY (alto)
I sang a lot at school, partied a lot at university and returned to music as my children started to grow up. I started singing lessons after I joined the Leas and am thoroughly enjoying the challenge of learning a lot of music, fast, singing with talented amateur musicians. Memorable Leas moments? Watching how professional musicians pulled together the Monteverdi Vespers in the course of an afternoon’s dress rehearsal; the song school in Winchester cathedral; punting on the Cam during our recording weekend.

GEORGE DARLEY (tenor)
I learned piano from an early age and was brought up on my mother’s Mario Lanza and Johnny Mathis LPs. I sang in school musicals but didn’t really do “choir singing” until the University Choral Society where I eventually chaired the Society, met my future wife and bunked off the second half of most rehearsals to go down the pub. After coming down south I sang in a number of bigger choirs in London and Hertford before being asked to make up the tenor numbers for a single Children’s Concert:  I still haven’t left! I recently sang a couple of solo songs, for the first time in 24 years, at a local Open Mike gig. Memorable Leas moments? The cathedral weekends are always something special and a rare opportunity to sing choral music in the context for which much of it was written. Looking out on a packed St John’s Smith Square after singing the Monteverdi Vespers was the highlight of the recent season. De-camping to the pub after the Wednesday evening rehearsals.

NICKY TEENSMA (alto)
At school I never really sang. It was not the done thing in my Dutch secondary school. At university a friend dragged me to a rehearsal of the university choir and I never looked back. I sand with several small choirs in Holland and later in the UK. I took a year out from my teaching career to do a Tonalis Music Course with Michael Deason Barrow. Now, teaching at the Steiner School in Kings Langley, I love singing with the pupils and my colleagues. It was great to have the Leas at our school for a joint, African themed, concert with the children. I enjoy every moment of every rehearsal and concert. I have particularly enjoyed all the young, enthusiastic and inspiring people who have worked with us over the last few years as conductors, instrumentalists and soloists.