Diane was born and raised in Mansfield, and a founder member of Cantamus Girls Choir. Since then her singing, teaching and choral directing career has taken her much further afield. After graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, she sang as a soloist with Opera Roundabout in London before accepting a full-time contract with the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam where she sang for seven years. She subsequently moved to the USA, living in Ohio, Indiana and South Carolina. There she continued her opera and solo recital work. She developed a private voice studio (Vocal Dimensions), teaching at University level, and founding and directing four choirs. An author, her book The Heart of Singing, was published in 2011 and has served as the primary course text for several further education courses in colleges around America. Diane has travelled widely leading workshops in solo performance, choral singing and vocal technique. She is a great believer in the benefits of singing for everyone, she has developed a Singing for Well Being class for all adults. Along with Mansfield Choral Society, Diane is also Music Director of Sutton Melody choir in Sutton-in-Ashfield, and teaches singing in her private voice studio.
Stuart started playing the piano at the age of 9 when his parents bought him some music lessons for his birthday and has enjoyed playing ever since, developing his skills through the graded system of exams to diploma standard. He has a long experience of teaching the piano, as well as accompanying choirs, instrumentalists, singers and church congregations. Stuart has also enjoyed conducting church, school and community choirs. He is also the Principal Accompanist for Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir and also accompanies Nottingham Playhouse Choir. Professionally, Stuart worked in the financial services industry before becoming an ordained Methodist Minister. He later qualified as a primary school teacher, moving into headship before becoming a CEO of two multi-academy trusts. Having retired from frontline education in 2024, he is pleased to be able to pursue his musical passions.
Music is a central part of Greg’s life, and is set to become more of a focus as he approaches retirement. Singing initially at school, this extended to singing in a church choir. At university he took on the role of choirmaster for the university choir, and so it has continued. With his wife Jenny, he joined the MCS in 1987, and has now been the Assistant Music Director for more than 25 years. In addition to being our Assistant Music Director he is alsoChoirmaster at St Peter’s Church in Ravenshead. His wider musical expertise extends beyond singing and conducting. He very much enjoys playing French horn and is an important member of several local groups and orchestras. Born and bred in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, he currently lives in Ravenshead and is a GP in Annesley. He is most often to be found wearing shorts, regardless of the weather or location!
