WHO'S WHO

Musical Director

Braintree Choral is pleased to welcome Janette Ruocco, as its Musical Director.

Janette Ruocco graduated in music from Sheffield University and holds PGCE in music education and a Masters degree in Choral Education. In 2003, after a teaching career in middle and senior management in secondary schools, she was appointed to the newly created post of Vocal and Choral Development Manager for Essex Music Services, with responsibility for the creation and development of the county’s vocal strategy. In this role she works with thousands of young people in workshops and vocal projects and designs and delivers training programmes for teachers in nationally-funded schemes on behalf of Sing Up and the Association of British Choral Directors, of which she is a practitioner member.

Janette has created four levels of county youth choir provision in Essex: Fun Singers (5-6 year olds), Beginner Choir (7-9 year olds), Training choir (10-12 year olds) and Young Singers (14-19 year olds). These groups meet during half terms for courses and concerts and Young Singers have undertaken tours of Cathedrals to sing in evensong and concerts. Janette has trained members from Essex Young Singers and Essex Training Choir to sing in performances of works by Chilcott, Orff and Bryan Barnes with Essex choral societies, including Harlow Chorus, Witham and Dovercourt at St Peter’s Coggeshall and the Essex Musical Association at Thaxted. She is in demand as a choral workshop leader and recently worked with Hutton and Shenfield Choral Society preparing them for a performance of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man.

As well as her recent appointment with Braintree Choral Society, Janette’s work as a choral conductor includes the musical directorships of three highly regarded chamber choirs. The Meljon Singers, Illuminations and the recently formed Coggeshall Camerata. She also directs the 12-voice choral group Bocca Aperta and Harlow Chorus Academy, an adult training choir.

Janette’s many original compositions include vocal and instrumental music and the children’s cantata Swallow Tale, which was written for use in primary schools in Essex. In her spare time she is a keen photographer and is currently preparing a first exhibition of her photographs of Italy.

Accompanist

Tony Evans has been the Choir’s accompanist for many years now.

After 35 years in banking, Tony realized a long-held ambition to study music and obtain a Batchelor of Arts (Hons) degree in music specializing in composition.

He also studied accompanying with Christopher Roberts and gain the Allan Granville Cup for Accompanying in 1996.

Amongst his numerous musical activities, he has worked as an accompanist for solo players at the Colchester Institute. He has also worked for the Associated Board of examiners and for various choirs and he teaches pianoforte.

Tony also conducts his Church Choir Accord.