Our Musical Team
New MD, Julie Townson with retiring MD John Garrett and accompanist Elizabeth Cockshott
Musical Director - Julie Townson - June 25 - current
Since graduating in 1983 with a joint honours degree in Music and English from Keele University, Julie has been involved in teaching music in Lancashire schools and has had long-term connections with local choirs and instrumental groups. School choirs have been a major part of Julie's professional life for over 40 years and she first took up a position with an adult choir in the 1990s when she was invited to lead The Hyndburn Singers. Since then Julie has enjoyed long term associations with Pendle Youth and Children's Choir, Nelson Arion Male Voice Choir, been a singing member of Pendle Ladies Choir and more recently has acted as associate conductor to Colne Orpheus Glee Union Male Voice Choir.
Julie is delighted to be taking on the role of Musical Director.
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 Julie Townson. Julie took over the baton after former MD John Garrett retired. John was a fellow of the London College of Music and a licentiate of Trinity College London and directed our choir for 23 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.
Previous Musical Team
Musical Director 2001-2023 John Garrett BA hons (music), FLOM,LTCL,MISM
John was musical director for 23 years and was instrumental in a number of achievements, with wins at music festivals all over the UK. Most recently he guided the choir to being named Lancashire Choir of the Year 2023.