He has remained as Musical Director of the Wigston Choir for the past 36 years whilst the choir has grown from 18 members to its current strength of 70 plus voices
Over the past 36 years Peter has worked with male voice choirs, choral and operatic societies, orchestras and brass bands and was Musical Director of the Leicester Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society for 17 years. He frequently arranges music for male voice choirs and has also written arrangements for orchestras and brass bands.
A native of Wigston, Peter was educated at the local grammar school before leaving to begin work, initially as a commercial artist. He was later accepted by the Civil Service Commission and worked in telecomm unications for 12 years before joining the transport department of Leicestershire police in 1974. After a brief spell with Warwickshire police as transport manager, he returned to the Leicestershire Force as Fleet Manager a post he held until his retirement in 2005
Music is, thus, a total contrast from business life and has grown into a time-consuming hobby. Having been taught piano by his grandfather, he graduated to the pipe organ - playing for church services at the age of eleven and continuing that role for 26 years
In 1972, Peter founded the Wigston and District Male Voice Choir, thereby fulfilling a passion for male voice music which had been stimulated in his early teens by visits to the area by the Moira Male Voice Choir.
Peter Ward
Pam Birchall
Our shy and retiring genius behind the piano is Pam Birchall LLCM ALCM
Pam lives in Countesthorpe where she teaches music and piano both privately and in local schools
Recently Pam was highly delighted to receive the cut glass rose bowl which is presented to all choir members achieving 25 years of service.
As well as all the hard work Pam puts in for us she is also accompanist for the Leicester Gilbert & Sullivan Society and to the Lutterworth based Alumni Cantores.
