Penshurst Choral Society is thrilled to announce the appointment of Anthony Osborne as our new Musical Director.
Anthony brings a wealth of musical experience, having enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional tenor with Glyndebourne Opera, alongside many years as an organist, conductor and musical director. He currently leads both Crowborough Choral Society and Sutton Valence Choral Society, and is passionate about helping singers of all abilities perform at their very best.
What impressed us most throughout the selection process was Anthony’s warmth, musical insight and clear commitment to community singing. His belief that every singer can continue to develop, whatever their experience, fits perfectly with the spirit of Penshurst Choral Society.
Anthony joins us at an exciting time as we build on the wonderful legacy of Joe Tobin and look ahead to the next chapter in our musical journey.
Please join us in giving Anthony a very warm Penshurst welcome!
We can’t wait to make music together.
Glynis Dickinson pianist
Glynis began playing both piano and violin at the age of 11 and quickly realised that she wanted to pursue a career in music in one way or another. Her first piano teacher was a rather formidable lady named Evelyn Gunner who had been taught by the concert pianist Adelina de Lara, who in turn had been a pupil of Clara Schumann; an interesting lineage of which Glynis is rather proud! On leaving school she studied piano, violin and harpsichord at the Royal Academy of Music and then began a teaching career initially in Bedfordshire and then for several years at St Edmund’s School, Canterbury. While in Canterbury Glynis immersed herself in the musical life, both at the school where, among other things, she accompanied the School Choral Society, and in the wider community, playing with various orchestras and smaller ensembles, singing with a small chamber choir and she also formed a partnership with a Lay Clerk from the Cathedral with whom she gave many recitals.
From Canterbury she moved to North London where she taught piano and violin as a peripatetic teacher and became involved in the local music scene mainly as an orchestral player, including playing for local choral groups, many G&S productions and various musicals. A further career moved brought Glynis back to Kent and the Tunbridge Wells area where she has held prominent positions in two local prep schools and now works mainly as a peripatetic teacher of violin and piano as well as having a thriving private teaching practice and sometimes working as an accompanist for exams, festivals and auditions. As a violinist, she is a regular member of the RTWSO and in addition has played regularly in orchestras for other local choral societies. Glynis also composes music, mainly for piano but also for small ensembles and choirs, and has had performances of her work given at several venues in London and the South East.