Though a Lancastrian by birth, David is proud to call himself a Tauntonian by upbringing, having spent all his school years in the town. From there he went on to study mechanical engineering at Imperial College before working with Bristol-Siddeley/Rolls-Royce. Then, after a brief spell in the nuclear power industry, he moved into university teaching, at Coventry, Limerick and finally UMIST (Manchester).
If asked about the early musical influences in his life he would probably mention Semprini, Walt Disney’s film “Fantasia”, and having been born almost within earshot of Reginald Dixon performing on the organ of Blackpool Tower. Most importantly, though, he remains eternally grateful to the church choir (St James, Taunton), which gave him a solid musical foundation at a crucial time in his life, and also provided the incentive to begin to study the piano.
The process was continued by singing in school and college choirs, and he later extended his studies to include individual singing lessons and the organ. While living in the Midlands he spent fifteen years as a church organist and choirmaster, and also acted variously as rehearsal accompanist, orchestral pianist and musical director for amateur operatic society productions.
Taking early retirement from teaching gave him the welcome opportunity of returning to live in the beautiful Somerset countryside while still young and vigorous enough to walk the hills and cycle the lanes. To his delight this allowed the resumption of musical activity; he conducts one other regular choir and a seasonal one and sings in two more; and plays a church organ occasionally.
He is currently Honorary Secretary for the Western Region of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. His philosophy is that the Choir should enjoy their experience of singing and that audiences should be left wanting more!

Val Hill grew up in Exeter. After teacher training, her studies continued at the Royal Academy of Music. Soon after arriving in Taunton to teach at Weirfield School in 1964, she joined the Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir as accompanist. She served for 10 years, mostly with Doug Shepherd as conductor. On leaving, she was proud to be made an Honorary Life Member of the choir and remained the only lady member for many years. As Head of Music at Weirfield she particularly enjoyed directing the music for their major stage productions, including Oklahoma, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music.
After a year as Director of Music at Taunton Preparatory School when Weirfield move to Taunton School, Valerie finished full-time teaching and became accompanist to the Reg Griffiths Singers when Barbara Gimblett retired. Soon afterwards she was invited to rejoin the main choir and assists with accompanying and occasionally conducting. She also uses her 'sharp' hearing to seek out voices that are, perhaps, not quite on the note! The Choir consider her to be a real gem and an amazing asset.

Hazel was born into a musical Salvation Army family in Croydon, Surrey. This meant early involvement in church music, with opportunities for studying brass and choral singing, whilst gaining confidence in playing the piano in public as an accompanist. She has grown to enjoy this and loves to be part of a music-making team. Hazel moved to this area from Gloucestershire in 1986 when she married Steven who is the Minister of the Baptist Church in Hemyock. She worked for Social Services for 37 years as a social worker for the visually impaired and in day care for adults with learning disability.

An Associate of the London College of Music in pianoforte, the piano has been her main instrument since the age of five. Hazel has also played recorder, hand-bells and other instruments in local groups, and was a member of South Somerset Choral Society and accompanist for the Jubilate ladies' chamber choir for several years whilst living in Chard.  Being an official lady of leisure now enables her to spend time playing for soloist friends and elderly people in the locality, and leading a children's 'Belleplates' (handbells) group in the village.

Hazel is a totally dedicated and talented lady and expresses a desire to work with the Choir for some time to come and the Choir wouldn’t want to be without her!