Our Founder
Dorian Edwards – 1951 – 2017
Dorian Edwards had over 45 years’ experience of teaching, playing, and performing music. He conducted his first musical group, a children’s brass band, at the age of eleven.
He was for some years a semi-professional musician and worked in many locations both in the UK and Europe. He will tell you however, that his most memorable experience was singing and playing some country music to audiences in Nashville, Tennessee.
Choirs had always been a passion of his and he believed strongly that anyone who wants to try should have the opportunity to sing in a choral group. In a magazine article, he wrote:
“I believe if you can speak, you can sing, but too many people have a negative view of their singing and believe it should be confined to the bath or shower. I know that you can refine your voice and singing in a choir is the perfect way of doing that. You are not singing alone, and you have several voices singing with you to help you along. In 40 years, I have only met two people who could not carry a tune in a bucket, but I still managed to help them become valuable members of a choir. Frankly, everyone should try it at least once for apart from being a great social activity, it’s the most fun you can have for ‘flumpance’…. “
In 2002 Dorian suffered a serious brain injury and knew that music and choral activities were a major contributory factor to his recovery and the functionality he enjoyed in the subsequent years. He would often be heard on BBC Radio Berkshire and in March 2014 at Readings’ Hexagon Theatre produced and conducted The Armed Man.
It was with great sadness that we lost Dorian in March 2017 after he suffered a stroke at home and died following an operation at Charing Cross Hospital. Dorian was a huge part of people’s lives and will be missed by many. The choirs will continue with the same ethos and values that Dorian began the project with many years ago in the hope that others may reap the same benefit as those who have passed through our doors.
Dorian Edwards
1951 - 2017
“At Sing Healthy Choirs we believe the music we create comes from deep within us. We may not be rock gods, opera divas or country legends, we are people coming together to make great music free from judgement, opinion, or pressure. Singing like ourselves for ourselves, being the best, we can be.”