Previous Musical Directors

Dianne Walters - Our fifth Musical Director, was Dianne Walters. Dianne was born in Luton and spent many happy years singing with the world famous Luton Girls Choir all over the UK. She trained at Trinity College of Music, then later at Sydney Conservatorium, Australia. She has sung the lead in many productions both here and abroad, and while living in Singapore, sang with The International Festival Chorus and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra mainly singing Oratorio.
On her return to the UK Dianne was based in Horsham West Sussex where she sang with a small Opera Group mainly round the Sussex area and was thrilled to sing at The Edinburgh Fringe with them. In 1995 Dianne was asked to take over as MD to a Ladies Choir in Horsham which had 15 members. She built it up to over 40 members. Besides singing in Sussex and the surrounding areas the Horsham choir also sang in France and Germany. She continued as their MD until she left Sussex in 2013. In 2000 Dianne was asked to teach singing at two stage schools in the area, which she found very rewarding.
In 2013 a decision was made to move back to Bedfordshire to be nearer to her family. It was not long before she was asked to start a Ladies Choir in the small village where she lives. Hence "Singtastic" was born. Meanwhile she has continued to sing and, on her return to Bedfordshire, has performed as a guest soloist with the Vauxhall Male Voice Choir.

​​Dominic Keating-Roberts - Merseyside born Baritone Dominic Keating-Roberts was our fourth musical director. He was first introduced to music as a treble at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral under the direction of Professor Ian Tracey. His experience as a soloist began at The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in performances such as Faure's Requiem, Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio and perhaps, more notably, Honnegar's Joan D'Arc at the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. From here Dominic joined the London Oratory Schola whose film credits include Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter (Musical Director Michael McCarthy of The Sixteen). 
During his A-Level studies Dominic successfully auditioned for the National Youth Music Theatre for a lead role in a production of Pendragon that toured across the UK and Japan. He continued his studies at Kingston University London under baritone Jeffrey Black, preparing for his invitation to audition for the National Opera Studio to read Music and Drama. During his time there, he directed several successful choirs and performance arts groups as president of the music society. It was here that his passion for teaching took him towards a different career path. During this time he continued his singing career becoming a freelance Cathedral songman singing with several London Cathedral choirs such as St Paul's, Brompton Oratory and Westminster. He performed a wide variety of operatic repertoire from early and classical opera in roles such as Aneas in Purcell's Dido and Aneas, Figaro in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro to Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca and Marcello in La Boheme as well as performing several newly  written operatic works.
Dominic regularly performs, Oratorio works forming the majority of his current repertoire. He continues to sing as a cathedral songman at St George's Catholic Cathedral in London, recently broadcast on the BBC for midnight mass. He is a fellow of The Academy of St Cecilia, specialising in early and renaissance music, whose fellows include Dame Emma Kirkby and James Bowman. Dominic also sings with Colla Voce, a London based choir who's credits include performing regularly for the pope and also for members of the Royal family. Most recently they performed as the soloist group in the anniversary concert of James MacMillan's St John Passion with the The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The group have also just recorded renowned composer Roxanna Panufnik's latest composition Abide With Me with the Mozart players.
Dominic was a Head of Year at Samuel Whitbread Academy in Shefford teaching Music, English and Drama. He also ran several extra-curricular groups encouraging, and hopefully inspiring, the next generation of performers and musicians.

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 David Ewbank, our third musical director, conducted his last concert for us, the Bowls Club Concert on April 5th, 2014. He won a clarinet seat with the Bedford Orchestra and left us to pursue his musical muse. We thank him for all that he has done for us and wish him every success in the future. 

David was born in York. After winning an organ scholarship he studied the organ with Geoffrey Pearce at Selby Abbey. He went on to study for a music degree at the Birmingham Conservatoire; organ tutors included Professor David Saint and Marcus Huxley. During his time at the conservatoire, He toured Germany, Holland and France; taking part in recitals and masterclasses. David has held various church appointments and is currently Organist and Director of Music at Elstow Abbey.

David trained as a music teacher at the University of Reading. After teaching in North London, David moved to Bedfordshire and is Director of Music at a local upper school. 



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Graham Weeks - our second Musical Director. See him at his best at the Great Barford Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.








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Adrian Bessant - Our first Musical Director (Conductor). Adrian was invited by Alma Tebbut, our founder, to assist her to unlock the hidden musical talent that she believed existed in Great Barford by starting a singing group in the village. Adrian took our disparate group and turned us into a Choir that people wanted to hear as evidenced in our Summer Concert 2011 when we sang to a packed Village Hall. Adrian also participated as a 'Little Maid' in the Bowls Club Concert on April 5th, 2014.



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Dianne Walters
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David Ewbank with our accompanist Tessa Wood at his last concert with The Alma Singers in April 2014. Photograph by Roy Dickinson of the Great Barford Bowls Club.
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Graham conducts at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in June 2012.
Adrian conducts as John Cleghorn sings with The Alma Singers at The Alma Singers' Summer Concert in August 2011.