Ailsa's Blog: Meet Our Members: Diane-Callender
Dad played piano accordion in a jazz band as a youth and taught me aged 5 to play "Put another nickel in - Music, Music, Music" on my very first "instrument!" It was that blue and white plastic guitar I found sticking out of my Santa sack that started it all for me in 1961! Mum used to march me around the house (me standing on her feet) whilst singing military marches daa de de da da da daa! She was always singing and although unable read notation could sing alto to all the well known hymns from her days in the Salvation Army. My parents had a collection of 78s and as I recall my favourite was Mozart’s Turkish Rondo. I remember lifting the needle over and over to restart it.
Aged 8 I started free Violin lessons at school with Nigel Middleton a former Halle Orchestra player and later with his sister Freda. After a couple of lessons and after my performance of "Merrily we roll along" Nigel enthusiastically exclaimed "she’s got it!" Ten years later I played second violin in Fiddler on the roof at Sheffield City Hall with Nigel as leader.
It hasn’t always been classical music for me. As a music student and newly qualified teacher in the 70s and 80s memorable live concerts I saw include The Who, The Police, David Bowie, Prince and Bruce Springsteen.
Church and school choir was where a love of choral singing began and after 45 years teaching the Violin and Viola in Yorkshire, London, Surrey and Brighton & Hove my plan was always to start singing again. We moved to Seaford for the fresh air and a garden just before lockdown and boy!…I was so fortunate to discover Seaford Choral Society and joined in 2022. I’ve made so many lovely friends and have been inspired to practise again by Veronica our MD.
Best thing I ever did!
