Ailsa's Blog: Meet Our Members: Simon Foster

My earliest musical memories are of hearing my mother singing - she had a lovely voice and her favourite singer was Ella Fitzgerald. I was brought up to the sound of the Beatles. My older brother loved the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan; it took many years before I caught up with him!

At school I was introduced to prog rock. I still love listening to Yes, Genesis, ELP and Pink Floyd. My musical tastes include folk and jazz and when I was 11 or 12 I played percussion in the school brass band - cymbals and then bass drum, as well as the triangle etc. We performed 'The Liberty Bell' at the height of Monty Python's success (without the raspberry at the end!). I also learnt piano and later the organ. One of our history teachers was a very accomplished organist and he gave a recital which I will always remember as the evening I discovered the joys of J.S. Bach - in my opinion the greatest of all the great composers.

I sang in the house and school choirs at school and also joined three others to form a barbershop quartet. There were a few memorable musical school trips: to hear Britten's 'The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra' at the Albert Hall narrated by Anthony Hopkins; to the Festival Hall (I think) for Elgar's 1st Symphony conducted by George Solti. I was transfixed. My family also took me at quite a young age to 'Orpheus in the Underworld' by Offenbach at Sadler's Wells. These were all unforgettable experiences.

Retiring and moving here to Seaford has given me the opportunity to be part of a choir once more. Each and every person has been given a musical instrument - our voice. I believe everyone can learn to sing. There is nothing quite like using our voices together to make music. It doesn't have to be of professional quality to entertain others, and at the same time lift up our hearts and spirits.

I can't imagine a world without music; when we lose ourselves in listening to or performing something as beautiful as Handel's Messiah, it can be the closest thing to heaven on earth.