Who's Who

Dr David Clover MA, DMus, GTCL, FTCL, LTCL
1930 - 1979

David was born in Fressingfield, Suffolk in 1930. He was educated at Southend High School for Boys and Huntingdon Grammar School. He went on to study at Trinity College of Music, London, gaining graduate status. He then studied for the Master of Arts degree from London University. He was a member of The Royal College of Organists

In the mid 1950's he took up his first teaching post as Director of Music at Stationers' Company School. After Stationers' (1960) David accepted the position of Music Advisor for the City of Hull. Next, in 1967, came the position of Senior Music adviser for The City of Sheffleld. He was the Founder and Conductor of The City of Sheffield Teachers' Choir and Orchestra from 1968 and the Founder and Conductor of The City of Sheffield Youth Chorale from 1969. On a national level he founded and conducted The British Youth Choir and Chamber Orchestra (now the National Youth Choir of Great Britain)

He was an Examiner for Trinity College of Music, London from 1960 which took him abroad working in Canada, USA and the Caribbean. He regularly adjudicated at local and regional music festivals and competitions. His Compositions include various choral and instrumental works and arrangements. Some are still available.
His specialist subject was music making among young people, choral, school music.
He enjoyed driving, photography, and talking.

Mollie Petrie FGSM FRSA
President

Mollie Petrie was Head of Singing in the Department of Initial Studies at the Guildhall School of Music from 1984 to 2006. She taught, by invitation, at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, in the winter of 1985. More recently she was invited to work regularly with members of the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff. She has conducted classes in Eire, U.S.A., Belgium, France, New Zealand and has lectured at the International Congress of Voice Teachers, Helsinki, in 2001.

As a performer, Mollie sang for 40 years in oratorio, recital and opera, especially as a regular soloist with the BBC West of England in recital, and as a founder member of the BBC West of England Singers.

She taught at Dartington College of Arts for several years and helped to found the Bristol Intimate Opera and a group Hit for 6 for which she wrote a great deal of comic material which led to her one-woman show With a Frog in my Throat.

Her private teaching practice caters for many well-known professionals as well as amateurs of all ages.

Mark Wildman FRAM, FRSA
Vice-President

Mark was a Chorister in Gloucester Cathedral before studying at the Royal Academy of Music, London with Henry Cummings and Rex Stephens, and later with Rupert Bruce Lockhart. He is a national and international competition prizewinner.

His career began as a member of BBC Singers and he subsequently performed as bass soloist in UK, Europe and USA, including the Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall, BBC Proms, and at British and European festivals.

He is currently Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London. His students' at the Royal Academy recent successes include prizes in many major competitions. Many current and former students of Mark sing as principals in major opera companies internationally.

James Kirkwood LRAM, LTCL, ARCM,
Hon. Vice-President

James Kirkwood was educated at Woodhouse Grammar School and was inspired to follow a musical career by his music teacher there, Muriel Gill. Two years in the R.A.F. (Suez Crisis) was followed by teacher training at Bretton Hall College of Music, Art and Drama and some years later at the Northern School of Music in Manchester where he gained a number of diplomas appertaining to various aspects of music education.

By the time David Clover arrived in Sheffield James was head of music at Thornbridge Grammar School and it was from here that he was invited by David to be accompanist to the newly formed City of Sheffield Teachers' Choir. In fact it was from this point that David's influence and encouragement opened many doors for James; adjudicator for the British Federation of Music Festivals, examiner for Trinity College of Music, accompanist for the British Youth Choir, Melbourne Singers and Sheffield Youth Chorale (which he later conducted).

It was during this time that, at the behest of BBC Radio Sheffield, James formed the 300 strong 'Feast of Brass and Voices' choir involving the Sheffield Teachers' choir and his newly formed Radio Sheffield Choir (later Sheffield Chorale).

On David's death in January 1979 he took over the conductorship of Sheffield Teachers' Choir and with the support of Rupert Norris and the choir committee, set up 'The David Clover Festival of Singing' as a lasting tribute and memorial to this man who had done so much to direct James' future career as teacher, advisory teacher and finally adviser for music to the Sheffield L.E.A. - a post David Clover himself had held until his death. Along with Richard Clover, James was made honorary vice-president of the City of Sheffield Teachers' Choir in November 2008.

Richard Clover LTCL, FASC
Hon. Vice-President

Richard was born in Kingston upon Hull in 1961. Educated at Silverdale Comprehensive School, Sheffield (Chorister, head-chorister and songman at Sheffield Cathedral), Trinity College of Music, London studying singing with the late Eric Vietheer and Anna Berenska as well as piano with Valda Aveling.

Richard is currently senior Layclerk with Ely Cathedral Choir. He has sung in many of the great cathedrals and churches of England, Europe, Canada and the USA. Co-founder of the close harmony group 'shades of blue'. He has made numerous appearances on Radio and Television. As well as his layclerkship, Richard currently holds the full-time position of Technical Manager at Ely Cathedral as well as being the Technical Manager for his recording company Lantern Productions. Along with James Kirkwood, Richard was made honorary vice-president of the City of Sheffield Teachers' Choir in November 2008.

Ralph Green ARCM, Cert.Ed
Conductor

Ralph Green was born in Oldham and was educated at Chadderton Grammar School. He owes much of his earliest musical experience to Marian Barnett with whom he studied piano and organ at Macedonia URC in Failsworth, and to the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, where he regularly attended the Halle Concerts and sang from its platform in the choir at school speech days.

He went to Sheffield in 1966 to train as a teacher of Music and Mathematics at the then City of Sheffield College of Education, and remained to pursue a career in teaching Music in secondary schools at CSE, GCSE and A-levels. This extended into the public examination sector by becoming a Moderator for GCSE Music. He attained the ARCM diploma in school music teaching in 1982.

While still a student he started to conduct the College Operatic Society and became a member of Opera 14 (later to become part of The South Yorkshire Opera Company). In 1972 Ralph was appointed Musical Director of the Southey Musical Theatre Company, a position he held for twenty two years, and he has been its President since 2002. He joined the City of Sheffield Teachers' Choir in 1974, becoming its secretary in 1984 and its conductor in 1986. This has led to a huge commitment and involvement in the David Clover Festival of Singing and he has adjudicated in preliminary selection rounds of the competition. Since 1981 he has sung with The Sheffield Chorale. Ralph retired from teaching in 2006.