Dorothy Chaplin, Musical Director

Dorothy Chaplin, born and bred in Briton Ferry, was educated at Neath County School for Girls. She has been a resident of Swansea since 1953.

Dorothy studied Singing and Pianoforte from an early age but at the age of 18 she entered the nursing profession. She became a State Registered Nurse, married and had a family, after which she returned to her studies of Singing and Pianoforte with Madame Gething of Neath and Mrs Eileen Gething-Jones of Tonna, Neath.

She was a singing member of the Swansea Philharmonic Choir for twenty three years. Dorothy, a contralto soloist, is an Associate of the London College of Music and is a teacher of Singing, Voice Production and Pianoforte. She has directed the choir's music since 1980 and greatly extended the choir's repertoire and membership has increased substantially.    

Lynda Richards, Musical Director

Lynda was born in Swansea . Her single minded ambition to be a teacher was realised when she obtained an Honors Degree in Education with Advanced Music and English as her main studies.

Prior to entering Trinity College , Carmarthen , Lynda studied pianoforte and flute and obtained the Performer's Diploma of Associate of the London College of Music. During this time, she was a member of the West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra, which performed at both the Festival Hall and the Albert Hall in London , and at Mannheim and Heidelberg in Germany .

Whilst in her first teaching post at St. Aloysius Primary School in Merthyr Tydfil, Lynda became first a tutor and then Tutor-in-Charge of the Mid Glamorgan Ogmore Residential Centre courses in Recorder playing, which resulted in concerts of some 160 children playing recorders of various kinds.

After teaching in Merthyr for many years where she obtained the courtesy title of 'Merthyr's Miss Music' among her contemporaries, she returned to Swansea to teach in Sketty Primary School where she herself was educated. There she teaches at present a Reception Class, is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Senior Teacher and Co-ordinator of the Early Years Phase of the school. As Music Co-ordinator for many years she continued to impact her love of music throughout the whole school. In September 2007, Lynda relinquished her role as Music Co-ordinator due to managerial responsibilities within the Early Years Phase of Sketty Primary School. As Team Leader of Creative Development she now oversees the standards of Music, Art and Physical Education within the school.

Outside school hours Lynda has directed the music of numerous amateur pantomimes within the Sketty Parish. For many years she was the Musical Director of the Singing Group and Orchestra at St. Paul 's Church, Sketty, Swansea .

She has been the Musical Director of the Swansea and Brecon Diocesan Youth Orchestra and Singing Group, spreading yet more musical enthusiasm to young people. This, she still undertakes at the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon Annual Youth Camp held near Brecon each year.

This enthusiasm is extended to the Swansea Excelsior Ladies Choir in her shared role of Musical Director with her mother Dorothy Chaplin.

Sara Oliver, Accompanist

Sara was born and bought up in Swansea , developing a passion for music at a very early age. Although Sara plays piano predominantly these days, she also plays the flute, clarinet and saxophone. Her first instrument is the bassoon which she has played in the West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. Realising an affinity for the instrument, Sara continued her studies at the University of Birmingham where she gained her degree in music, performing regularly with the university Orchestra at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and the Old Rep Theatre.   

Following her degree, she was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London where she studied Bassoon Performance under the direction of Gareth Newman and John Orford. Here, she performed with The Academy Octet at Glyndebourne and began her own woodwind quintet, performing throughout the London area.  

It was during her studies in London , whilst teaching piano and woodwind privately, that she realised a love of teaching. Following her studies, Sara worked as a woodwind and piano peripatetic for Sutton Music Service whilst continuing to freelance as a bassoonist. This led to Sara moving back to Swansea to undertake a PGCE in Primary Education. After spending a year in Penzance last year as a primary school teacher, Sara currently teaches and is the Music Co-ordinator at Sketty Primary School .

Pat Smith, Assistant Accompanist

In 2004 Pat commenced a Back-To-Music course. She particularly enjoys accompanying the choir and has played items at our Christmas Concert. She also plays at our rehearsals, when required. Pat has been a chorister with the Choir for many years in the Alto section