The Plume School Choir began in 1995 as the Fambridge Road Singers with a membership of six students. Plume School already had a year 7 and 8 choir but nothing regular for older students. After a couple of years the choir was opened up to students from all year groups. The choir now has a membership of approximately 60 students and is open to any student. There is no audition process and the philosophy follows the African proverb “if you can talk – you can sing”. The choir encourages the development of leadership skills and students have opportunities to become section leaders who take sectional rehearsals, other students look after the administration of registers, and promote the choir in assemblies and to the community. The choir meets once a week and performs between 6 and 10 times a year.

Our conductor is Sally Thomson MA BA(Hons) PGCE LGSM. Sally trained at Colchester Institute, Reading University and City University studying the flute with Keith Bragg, Duke Dobing and Edward Beckett and voice with Lesley Tremethick. She was Head of Music at Plume School from 1996 until 2003 when she decided to take some time to raise a family. She continues to work part-time at Plume School as well as performing with various orchestras and ensembles.

Our accompanist is Fiona Hill BA(Hons) LGSM LTCL ATCL. Fiona trained at Colchester Institute studying the clarinet with Paul Harvey and Jack Brymer and the piano with Susannah Nash. She is a highly respected freelance musician and is the leader of Saxology quartet who regularly appear on Classic FM and Radio 3.

The Plume School Choir performs regularly at school events and concerts for the local community. Recent performances have included: singing in the Marriage of Figaro with Handmade Opera, performing in the Planets Suite with the Wolsey Orchestra,joint concerts with the London Community Gospel Choir, Maldon Choral Society, Maldon Youth Choir and the PAMS Choir. European tours have included Germany and Austria.

In the past we have competed in the Colchester Rotary Festival of Music and Dance and have won both the Youth Choir and Open Choir classes. In 2010 we sang in the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition and were named a Choir of the Day and were put forward for the National Selection process. We have competed twice in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. This year we will be competing once again.