Guest Conductors
Gillian Dibden
Guest Conductor
Gillian spent a number of years as a school music teacher in the State and Private Sectors, Primary and Secondary. During this time her Chamber Choir from St Bernard’s Convent School won both the National and International prizes in the (European Broadcasting Union sponsored) choral competition “Let the Peoples Sing”.
Gillian was Head of Voice and Choral Music for the Berkshire Young Musicians Trust for many years. During this time she founded Berkshire Youth Choir, Berkshire Girls’ Choir and Berkshire Boys’ Choir. Between them they won the Youth Category of the Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year Competition (twice), the overall prize once (beating adult choirs), and the Junior Choirs Category. They also won numerous prizes at the National Festival of Music for Youth, and performed at The Schools Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. In 2002 Gillian was named (national) Choral Director of the Year.
In 2004 Gillian became a freelance musician. She founded Taplow Choirs, and has worked as a workshop leader for choirs and Choral Societies all over the UK. She also delivers ‘inset’ days for teachers, and gives presentations at several of the UK ’s foremost Choral Conventions. In 2006, Gillian was an adjudicator for the Radio 3 Choir of the Year Competition and for the National Festival of Music for Youth. She works with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, and regional Youth Choirs from throughout the country. She has been invited to adjudicate 'Choir of the Year' again in 2008. Gillian is a member of the Council of the Association of British Choral Directors.
