Ailsa's Blog: Meet Our Members: Maggie McLean
Maggie's musical memories
Like DH Lawrence, as a child, I sat under the piano listening to my mother play Chopin and Chaminade, and began my piano lessons aged four with the wonderful woman who lived next door. Winnie Ashton ran the Hull Orpheus Junior Choir. Being a choir member threaded throughout my childhood - Llangollen (we won!), small groups, duets, trios. Most weeks, a concert in a village hall with ladies in felt hats. We even sang for the Queen.
It was what I knew - so to college to study music. My first teaching post was at Notre Dame in Manchester - more choirs - more Llangollen. I sang with the Halle - memories of singing Verdi with Barbarolli as a very old man.
London called. The Bach Choir with Sir David Willcox. Be very grateful for Veronica!! Willcox was utterly terrifying - "I'll just have those four altos" - and you knew it was you! I got to be very good at miming, but did have some fabulous experiences - War Requiem, B Minor etc etc.
It was raining in Battersea, so headed to Rome. Music and drama in an international school. The first time I 'got' opera. We came back from the beach one Sunday and bribed the doorman. He let us us into the artistic director's box immediately above the orchestra pit. Tosca - the Rome opera. And I was hooked. Mesmerised. The end of Act One with the Te Deum in clouds of incense rolling towards me. Beyond words.
Back to London reality. I talked my way into the BBC, writing/presenting a number of radio series about music - scenes from childhood, piano duets etc. But it didn't pay the rent - so back to teaching music in a comprehensive school. And decided eventually that if I heard another kid who thought he was God's gift to a drum kit I was going to do something very nasty.
Had I ever thought about teaching primary children? Well no, but somehow I spent twenty years as a head. Always with choirs, orchestras, class singing. (If pushed, I will teach you Eric the Flea.)
When my husband became ill and I had to work from home I learnt to play the organ hoping that it might be a good way to keep Alzheimer's at bay. Lockdown was wonderful, a key to the church, just me, I pulled out all the stops.
And then to Seaford and new adventures. I joined the East Sussex Bach Choir, found myself playing the organ in Peacehaven, took up the tenor recorder and play very bad bridge.
Joining Seaford Choral meant giving up my Yorkshire (on line) writing group which is why it took me a while. But worth it! With Veronica - and John - it is wonderful!! (On this we are all agreed.)
In many ways, I have come full circle - I was asked to take on the Sutton Barn community choir so am back conducting and planning repertoire. We are not in the SCS league but we share many of the rounds as warm ups!
And on the pop front, I did queue all night for the Beatles.
