Our Musical Team
Musical Director - John Garrett BA hons (Music), FLOM, LTCL, MISM
John has been our musical director for 21 years. In addition to directing our choir, he is a talented pianist, organist, composer and is very much in demand as a solo singer. In recent years he has raised thousands for a number of charities close to his heart.
John conducts several choirs in the North West, and was instrumental in helping us become Lancashire Choir of the Year 2023. He studied music at university and was awarded the university prize for singing. In the same year he was awarded a scholarship at the Mrs Sunderland music competition in Huddersfield. He later studied singing with the late Patrick McGuigan (Royal Northern College of Music). Patrick coached many leading opera singers including Russell Watson. John is also a Fellow of the London College of Music and a licentiate of Trinity College London. You can find out more about John on his personal webpage www.johngarrettmusic.org
Accompanist - Elizabeth Cockshott BMus, PGCE
We are very fortunate to have Elizabeth as our accompanist, as well as playing both piano and organ, she is also a talented saxophonist, and solo singer.
Elizabeth was appointed Organ Scholar at Leeds Cathedral & studied with Dr. Christopher McElroy whilst reading music at the University of Huddersfield. She was also a member of the cathedral adult choir where she sang regularly for radio and television broadcasts. Elizabeth is currently Head of Music at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn.
Our History
Pendle Ladies Choir is based in Colne in Lancashire. The choir began life as Nelson Civic Ladies Choir. The name was changed at the beginning of 2024 to be more representative of our locality and to be in line with the other former civic choirs; Pendle children's choir and Pendle youth choir.
Our musical director is John Garrett a fellow of the London College of Music and a licentiate of Trinity College London. John has directed our choir for 21 years. Our accompanist is Elizabeth Cockshott, a talented pianist who is the head of music at Queen Elizabeth's grammar school in Blackburn.
Concert engagements will always be a major part of the choir's calendar and we regularly perform locally, often supporting local charities, but we also enjoy competing against other choirs which helps keep us on top form. Over the years the choir has competed successfully at home and abroad winning many first prizes at leading music festivals; it has also appeared on radio and TV, winning first prize in the BBC TV 'Grand Sing'. More recently the ladies were awarded the coveted title of 'Lancashire Choir of the Year 2023'.
Nelson Civic Ladies Choir was formed in 1959 from a group of girls who had outgrown the local junior choir. The civic choirs were originally formed by the late Edward Parr MBE, he was musical director for all three civic choirs until his retirement in 1999 when he moved to Cornwall.