SERENDIPITY
V.E. Day 80th Anniversary
"Wartime Memories 1939-1945"
Nostalgia and time to join in well-known songs
Margaret Jowett trained at the Northern Theatre School, under the direction the late Esme Church.
After touring with a children’s theatre company, she worked as a stage director and actress in northern repertory companies, followed by personnel work in retail and industry. She founded and ran for 30 years her own “Speech and Drama Workshop”, whilst teaching speech and drama at Leeds Girls’ High School and appearing on YTV. Her tuition has equipped many young people with invaluable skills for both theatre and other professions.
Margaret is a member of Equity and The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama. She hosts the Boston Spa Lunch time concert season, directs plays, runs Dickens workshops in schools, and has narrated Rachmaninoff Vespers for the Esterhazy Singers, in London. Twenty years as a Tour Guide at Harewood House and Ripley Castle included story – telling, costumed presentations such as “The Ladies of Ripley Castle” and performances at The Bar Convent.
Margaret, hosts “Serendipity,” which she and Kathy created in 2003.
Kathy White was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Aged 8 years she commenced singing lessons with Dorothy King and became a valued member of several choirs. From her teens she enjoyed entertaining with her father, singing solos and duets locally and performing with the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Operatic Society.
On moving to Leeds in 1988 Kathy continued her studies with singer Margaret Lucas and joined Headingly Operatic Society, Wetherby Light Music Singers and the Leeds Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
In 1993 she formed a quartet, ‘Limelight’ who provided songs for social occasions from musicals, operetta and light popular music. Kathy is often invited to contribute solo items at concerts for organisations in Bramhope, Burley in Wharfedale and annually at churches in Coxwold and Tockwith.
As the other half of ‘Serendipity’ Kathy’s experience and extensive repertoire can be heard in their themed programmes of ‘words and music’ performed in surroundings such as Stately Homes, Masonic Ballrooms and many venues around Yorkshire.
Linda Hinchliffe was born in Leeds and began piano lessons aged 4. She completed her studies at London College of Music under the direction of William Lloyd Webber, gaining two piano diplomas and a degree in 1975.
Linda’s musical career spans five decades. She has taught music to all ages, performed regularly with amateur societies in the pit and as a Musical Director for numerous productions including “My Fair Lady”, “Oh What a Lovely War” and “Oliver”.
Linda has worked for Leeds Education Artforms as a peripatetic pianist, part time teacher and accompanist for many productions with the Leeds Youth Opera including Mozart’s “Magic Flute” and the European premier of “Appomattox” by Philip Glass.
Now freelance, she is playing for weddings, funerals, etc., and enjoying a little more free time.
Linda has been accompanist for “Serendipity” since its formation in 2003. However, because of the high demands on her time she is not often seen ‘live’ at our performances, but is heard through our sound system.