Ian Wilson at Essex Branch
Musical Director: Madeline Seviour. Committee members: Liz Day treasurer, Christine Minns librarian, Annelies Ringer secretary, Paulette Luff social media presence, Corinna Richards Committee member.
The recorder is an ideal instrument for late starters and those returning to music making. Essex branch’s friendly and enthusiastic group of some 20 members looks forward to welcoming you.
MARION PANZETTA
Essex branch members were greatly saddened to learn of the death on Christmas Eve, 2019 of Marion Panzetta. She was 87.
In 2019 Marion retired after more than 40 years conducting the branch. She was the branch’s first Chairman, and one of the principal conductors from the start. In 1993 she relinquished the chairmanship to become a joint Musical Director. In appreciation of all she has done for the branch the members made her Honorary President of the branch. The presentation was made on 2nd November.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
We have players of all standards in the group; you need to be able to read music but for those who are new to the recorder or returning to music after a break there are plenty of experienced players to offer support and encouragement. Bring your recorder and a music stand if you have one; all music will be provided. There is a charge of £5 for visitors.
Our meetings are based on ensemble playing, and each month our conductors guide us through a variety of music from the 16th to the 21st century. It’s not just descants, we play everything from sopranino to great bass. Less experienced players might like to try the tenor. It’s the same fingering as the descant and being in the middle of the range players feel less exposed than when they are on the top descant line! Any ensemble group needs more players on lower instruments so we encourage members to try other sizes of recorder as they progress, making the group more versatile.
As well as meetings led by our regular conductors, we visit Ingatestone Hall in the summer to play in the Long Gallery for visitors to the house, we invite a visiting conductor each year and usually organise a day course or playing day.
For more information contact us at or telephone Annelies Ringer, secretary on 079 293 292 70.
We have a Facebook page: The Society of Recorder Players – Essex Branch
See below for mo
re photos from our activities (click on an image to see a larger version)
Essex Branch
After the Covid period, we held our first face to face meeting at St George’s Church Hall in Brentwood on 4 September 2021, when 15 Branch members turned up to enjoy the sound of real music. Our AGM took place on Monday 6 September, it was short and lively. The existing Branch committee existing of Madeline, Liz, Christine, Annelies and Janet has been reelected and we have one new member: Peter Walker.
On 5 February 2022 we much enjoyed a playing day with Ian Wilson as our guest conductor. We rehearsed a number of pieces, including Schein, Handel, Philips and the Pearls of Essex. We ended up with a mini-concert for ourselves.
On 1st October The Essex Branch received a pastoral visit from Michael Graham, which was much enjoyed.
On Saturday 4 March 2023 we enjoyed a well-attended playing day with Helen Hooker.
Unfortunately we had to cancel our playing day on Saturday 3 June 2023, with Andrew Challinger as our conductor for reasons of ill health. However, we are very pleased that Sue Handscombe replaced him as our guest conductor and gave us a wonderful day with many challenges and lots of laughter.
On 6 August 2023, 13 of our members played in Ingatestone Hall as has been the tradition for many years and afterwards we enjoyed a cream tea.
On 22 August we sadly said farewell at the funeral service of Derek Duck who passed away on 8 August 2023. He had been a member of the Branch and served on the Committee as treasurer for many years. He was much liked because of his kindness and helpfulness to all of us, and in particular to new members as well as for his astute observations about all things financial.
On 5 October 2024 a smaller than usual group of Essex SRP members joined a very worthwhile playing day with guest conductor Liz Alexander (local Suffolk musician, recorder player, singer, composer and music teacher). We especially enjoyed playing Liz’s own arrangements and compositions.
On Saturday 22 March 2025 Ian Wilson came for another visit as our guest conductor and gave us a brilliant day with many challenges, useful tips and enjoyable playing of pieces by James Lauder, J.S.Bach, Peter Racine Fricker, Purcell, Rosemary Robinson, Claudia Francesca, and two yet to be published arrangements by Ian.