Officials

President - Bob Chilcott

Bob Chilcott has enjoyed a lifelong association with choral music, as a chorister and choral scholar in the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and as a member of the King’s Singers. He became a full-time composer and conductor in 1997, and has composed a large catalogue of choral music which is published by Oxford University Press. His most often performed pieces include Can you hear me?, A Little Jazz Mass, Requiem, and the St John Passion.

Bob has directed choirs in more than 30 countries worldwide and conducts many thousands of amateur singers in a continuing series of Singing Days. Since 2002 he has been Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers and since 2019 Principal Conductor of Birmingham University Singers.

His music has been widely recorded by leading British choirs and groups including The King’s Singers, King’s College, Cambridge, Wells Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, The Sixteen, Tenebrae, The BBC Singers, The Bach Choir, Commotio, and Ora. Circlesong, recorded by the Houston chamber Choir and Treble Choir of Houston, was released by Signum in January 2022, and his second disc with NFM Wroclaw, Canticles of Light, in January 2023. November 2023 has seen the release of Christmas Oratorio recorded by The Choir of Merton College, Oxford on Delphian and Mary, Mother by St Martin’s Voices on Resonus.

Bob has had a long relationship with Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir and we are very proud to have him as our President.

Vice President - Susan Hollingworth, DUniv, BEM

A Graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied voice, Susan was formerly Musical Director of the Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir for 34 years and is now their Creative Director. In 2008 she conducted the choir in their winning performances for the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition. In 2014, following on from the choir’s success at co-commissioning and staging Cycle Song (a community opera with 1,500 local performers), she was awarded a Royal Philharmonic Award on behalf of SCJC and Proper Job Theatre Company. In 2019 Susan was awarded a British Empire Medal for her contributions to music both nationally and locally and in 2022 received an Honorary Doctorate from Bishop Grosseteste University for contributions to Music Education. Susan is also a Churchill Fellow, receiving her fellowship for work with young choirs and from 1990 to 1998, was Musical Director at John Leggott College. Currently, Susan is the former Musical Director of the Sine Nomine International Touring Choir and current Musical Director for Scunthorpe and District Choral Society and the Lydian Choir. She teaches conducting for the Association of British Choral Directors and enjoys giving workshops and singing days for choirs. In the last year, she has formed a duo with pianist Caroline Clemmow. Together they are exploring and performing the existing repertoire for piano and narrator plus creating some of their own.

Chair, Safeguarding Lead and Patrons Secretary - Jacqui Brewster

SCJC Committee Chair, Jacqui Brewster’s role began as a parent, who, after bringing her daughters to choir, was asked to help out on the registration desk - sorting music, DBS admin, making tea and chaperoning at events and concerts. Both Jacqui's daughters are now grown up (and still singing) and alongside her role as SCJC Committee Chair and Trustee, she is still to be found at choir most Friday evenings along with other volunteer friends (old and new) .

Vice-Chair - Vic Taylor

Vic began volunteering with the choir in 2021, initially supporting on the registration desk but fairly quickly progressing to supporting events for all three choirs. Vic has worked in education for nearly 15 years and currently works for the UK's largest Awarding Body in the education sector. Vic has a wealth of experience in advice and guidance for young people and has extensive experience of trip and event management. Most recently, Vic lead the SCJC tour to Germany and is deep in the planning of our next international tour to Italy. Vic's daughter has been a part of the choir family for 8 years and Vic is keen to support the choir after seeing first hand the experiences and opportunities the choir provides to local children.

Treasurer - Helen Harrison

I first joined Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir back in 1974 until 1983, as a chorister and have fond memories of this time. I was delighted to find the choir still rehearsing on a Friday evening when my daughter aged 3 joined the choir 23 years later. I found myself helping out with sorting music, ticket sales and photocopying. I was soon invited to join the committee and later volunteered my financial and accounting interest to the choir, became treasurer and joined Jacqui and Sue as a Trustee. Jacqui, Sue and I have spent many evenings discussing Choir issues and finances, always with our members at the centre of our thoughts. They are a great team to work with, along with the many other volunteers that contribute to our success. Over the years I have enjoyed watching the children develop, create friendships and most of all perform. The music team do a fantastic job, the young people are an absolute credit and they are wonderful to watch. So much so, that over the past 17 years I have sadly only missed 4 performances. My daughter almost at the end of her youth journey with SCJC decided to stay on to celebrate the Centenary year and still enjoys the musical experience, being part of the choir brings. I look forward to our continued sucess into the next century and feel blessed to be part of the SCJC family.

Further Committee Members