Jo SavilleFounder of Cornwall Choir Collective. |
About Jo
Here’s an insight into how my musical life has developed over the years.
Before reading on you might like to have a cup of tea to hand…
For starters, I feel extremely fortunate to have grown up in the special place that is Porthleven! My earliest musical memories include playing the recorder in school (not to brag, but I was of the few who could hold it properly & make it sound ok) and creating harmonies while singing assembly songs, despite some weird looks from my peers!
Every Sunday meant church for me (St Michael’s, Helston) where I would once again enjoy harmonising the hymns, taking particular delight in the Christmas season, where my siblings & cousins would encourage each other to ‘do the descant’!
Many hours of my very young days were spent listening to Dad’s records - ranging from The Rolling Stones & Elvis, to The Everly Brothers, Cliff Richard & Tommy Steele. I also have a vivid memory of jumping off the table to Adam & the Ants, while singing “Prince Come in, Prince Come in” (wrong words, but I was only 6!)
Anyway, it was clear from very early on that music was my sanctuary, my ‘go to’ place.
I started learning the clarinet when I was 9 - every Friday in ‘Music School’ where we got to go to the big school in Helston. It was fun being with a group of friends and was also my first insight into ensemble playing.
Practising at home was memorable, mainly due to the dog howling, which was hilarious but quite a hindrance!
I kept the clarinet going until I was about 14 - working towards Grade 4 exam - but by that time I was busy with other instruments which then took preference...
Piano lessons also began before the age of 10, with the lovely Mrs Wade, and it’s safe to say that I loved this instrument
& stuck with it. We used to have informal concerts - basically the audience consisted of our Mums - and despite it being relaxed & amongst friends I used to struggle to keep my nerves in check; however, over the years I found ways to overcome performance anxiety, and I see it as a positive in that it I can relate to (& help) choir members
who might be nervous!
Mum bought into ‘The Great Composers’ series (remember those magazine subscription adverts on TV back in the 80s?) so I soaked up the likes of Bach, Beethoven & Tchaikovsky etc. After reading a biography about Beethoven I became quite obsessed, and simply had to learn some of his piano works - Moonlight Sonata & the Pathetique took hours of practice, but became firm favourites.
Before you start to think that I was quite a sophisticated child or something, I feel I should point out that at that age I also spent a lot of time reading about the adventures of Pippi Longstocking & The Little Vampire - or watching Wacaday on the TV, as well as & dressing my dog up in a variety of outfits...!
Anyway...my older brother played trombone in the local brass band (Porthleven Town) & came home one night with a cornet for me to try. I found it quite instinctive to play & was curious to see what this world of brass banding looked like, so joined the junior band (age 11). Needless to say I was pretty hooked, being amongst friends & a wonderful
band master - and after just two weeks I moved up to the senior band (joining the infamous ‘back row’ on 3rd cornet!) This meant three or four rehearsals a week, so I totally got the brass band bug & have some great memories - Sunday nights on the Harbourside & every Wednesday at Kennack Sands holiday park (even in the rain) during the summer holidays, out in the cold for Christmas Carolling, as well as various contests (with both junior & senior bands) around the county, Torquay & Bristol. For my first contest (St John’s Hall, Penzance - age 13) I actually played the cymbal (yes, just the one) where I felt like a bit of a wally, to be honest, standing there counting hundreds of bars rest mostly - but it was still memorable & I got a mention in the comments (‘good cymbal roll’) yay! Going away to a contest in Bristol
(including the obligatory coach trip) for the first time was an eye-opener & heaps of fun!
I moved from 2nd cornet player to flugelhorn around 1992 & absolutely loved its more mellow sound, along with the responsibility of being the sole player. I then joined Helston School Jazz Orchestra, directed by the fabulous jazz trumpeter John Austin, who also gave me a trumpet so I could play the part with more authenticity! More great times & musical development ensued here, including winning Gold at the national finals in Manchester
(another riotous coach trip). I even played a flugel solo here, channelling those nerves into positive energy! Being a part of this group broadened my musical knowledge further, and got me listening to a lot more to jazz & swing around that time. I also discovered the Acid Jazz genre, where the likes of The Brand New Heavies (who continue to be one of my top bands ever), Jamiroquai & Incognito were played on repeat on my ghetto blaster!
My journey with Porthleven Brass Band came to a natural end during my A-levels, as school work increased & also many of my friends had left, and I then decided to take up the tenor saxophone which I played in the Jazz Orchestra instead of trumpet. Around this time I had also passed my Grade 8 piano exam.
I was also on sax & backing vocals in the local soul band Any Excuse around the time that The Commitments
was released, which is one of my best loved films to this day - another sound track that was (& still is on occasion)
played on loop.
Not really knowing which specific career path to take, but certain that it would feature music, I went on to study for a BA at Exeter University, where I continued with both the piano & saxophone, playing in the wonderful EUJO (Exeter University Jazz Orchestra) and the music department Sax Quartet - lots of gigs & happy times! Then in my final year I took on the role of Musical Director for EUJO, which was amazing! I developed my love of singing further during my Exeter days, by performing in a gospel choir, jazz quintet and stage productions.
My degree was largely based on Music History, and thus introduced me to composers & music that I wasn't aware of until then. I discovered a passion for Early Music, such as Palestrina, Pergolesi & Tallis - and learnt a new skill in playing Figured Bass on the harpsichord. I found the Renaissance & Baroque styles to be my go-to music for relaxation & concentration - and alongside this I was also introduced to (in complete contrast) Brian Eno’s Music for Airports which helped me to zone out completely & aid sleep - which probably had a big influence on my journey towards becoming a Sound Therapist (but more on that later)… I also enjoyed lectures in Music Therapy, Music Psychology & Electronic Music, whilst making friends for life & finding out more about myself!
Having graduated & still not entirely sure of what to do next, I spent a couple of years in London trying to figure it all out, doing various jobs. When looking into studying to become a Music Therapist I decided to do a PGCE first, to gain some experience & keep my options open. Without going into every detail, I qualified as a teacher & had some varying experiences teaching music to pupils from Reception up to GCSE level, and also moved from London to Chichester. After a few years of teaching class music, I then had a complete career change, working for the National Trust & doing various temping jobs, before missing music too much and taking up a position as Peripatetic Music Teacher for West Sussex County Council, as well as leading the County Youth Choir for a while. I also got back into brass banding again (this time on tenor horn), as part of Chichester City Band, with whom I was lucky enough to take part in the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall!
During these Sussex years, I had decided that Music Therapy would definitely be a suitable option for me, but then life took a different turn, leading to the birth of my eldest son Tom. A year later we moved back to Cornwall, so with the nearest Music Therapy course being in Bristol & my focus being on a new baby, these plans were postponed; however, I did find myself back in the classroom, as Head of Music at the lovely Roselyon School. My youngest son Sam was born two years later, and a couple of years after that I was putting plans in place to start up a new community choir when I stumbled across a TV programme called ‘The Choir that Rocks’. This was definitely one of those serendipitous moments, and led me to be instrumental in establishing the Rock Choir brand in Cornwall, and running choirs throughout the county for 8 years. This was a fantastic experience, with stand-out memories such as directing 150 choir members for a recording session at Abbey Road, being on stage at places like the O2 Arena, the NEC & Proms in the Park -
but mostly enjoying a new-found confidence & energy, and being surrounded by the loveliest people -
and it absolutely clarified for me that being a choir leader is simply what feels right.
During the last five years in particular I have done much soul-searching, having been through a divorce, a couple of house moves and navigating life as a single Mum. Over this time not only have I gained flat-pack skills (!), but I have also explored different ideas of how I can find my purpose & really flourish. As part of Cornwall Music Service Trust I have been directing Cornwall Junior Choir since 2019, and I work with young people, supporting their well-being & learning through music, with the charity Music for Good. I'm part of a vocal trio - The Velvets - which is a wonderful creative outlet.
With an increasing interest in the healing properties of sound, I studied for a Professional Diploma with the British Academy of Sound Therapy, and have been running relaxing soundbath sessions since qualifying in 2019. I have recently done a DJ course & am working on combining these skills to facilitate amazing sound & dance journeys!
I also completed the Singing for Lung Health training in 2021 (Phoene Cave, The Musical Breath) so am now qualified to work in this specific area.
I feel strongly that we should all take a bit more time out to escape from our busy lives, and understand that singing, music & sound can help us to achieve this, and believe that I can use all of my experiences to share my passions in a positive way that will empower, heal & connect us.
Thank you for taking the time to read my brief musical history! I really hope that you will soon become a very valued part of Cornwall Choir Collective, and all the adventures we will share together.
Love, peace & fairylights
Jo
xxx
Before reading on you might like to have a cup of tea to hand…
For starters, I feel extremely fortunate to have grown up in the special place that is Porthleven! My earliest musical memories include playing the recorder in school (not to brag, but I was of the few who could hold it properly & make it sound ok) and creating harmonies while singing assembly songs, despite some weird looks from my peers!
Every Sunday meant church for me (St Michael’s, Helston) where I would once again enjoy harmonising the hymns, taking particular delight in the Christmas season, where my siblings & cousins would encourage each other to ‘do the descant’!
Many hours of my very young days were spent listening to Dad’s records - ranging from The Rolling Stones & Elvis, to The Everly Brothers, Cliff Richard & Tommy Steele. I also have a vivid memory of jumping off the table to Adam & the Ants, while singing “Prince Come in, Prince Come in” (wrong words, but I was only 6!)
Anyway, it was clear from very early on that music was my sanctuary, my ‘go to’ place.
I started learning the clarinet when I was 9 - every Friday in ‘Music School’ where we got to go to the big school in Helston. It was fun being with a group of friends and was also my first insight into ensemble playing.
Practising at home was memorable, mainly due to the dog howling, which was hilarious but quite a hindrance!
I kept the clarinet going until I was about 14 - working towards Grade 4 exam - but by that time I was busy with other instruments which then took preference...
Piano lessons also began before the age of 10, with the lovely Mrs Wade, and it’s safe to say that I loved this instrument
& stuck with it. We used to have informal concerts - basically the audience consisted of our Mums - and despite it being relaxed & amongst friends I used to struggle to keep my nerves in check; however, over the years I found ways to overcome performance anxiety, and I see it as a positive in that it I can relate to (& help) choir members
who might be nervous!
Mum bought into ‘The Great Composers’ series (remember those magazine subscription adverts on TV back in the 80s?) so I soaked up the likes of Bach, Beethoven & Tchaikovsky etc. After reading a biography about Beethoven I became quite obsessed, and simply had to learn some of his piano works - Moonlight Sonata & the Pathetique took hours of practice, but became firm favourites.
Before you start to think that I was quite a sophisticated child or something, I feel I should point out that at that age I also spent a lot of time reading about the adventures of Pippi Longstocking & The Little Vampire - or watching Wacaday on the TV, as well as & dressing my dog up in a variety of outfits...!
Anyway...my older brother played trombone in the local brass band (Porthleven Town) & came home one night with a cornet for me to try. I found it quite instinctive to play & was curious to see what this world of brass banding looked like, so joined the junior band (age 11). Needless to say I was pretty hooked, being amongst friends & a wonderful
band master - and after just two weeks I moved up to the senior band (joining the infamous ‘back row’ on 3rd cornet!) This meant three or four rehearsals a week, so I totally got the brass band bug & have some great memories - Sunday nights on the Harbourside & every Wednesday at Kennack Sands holiday park (even in the rain) during the summer holidays, out in the cold for Christmas Carolling, as well as various contests (with both junior & senior bands) around the county, Torquay & Bristol. For my first contest (St John’s Hall, Penzance - age 13) I actually played the cymbal (yes, just the one) where I felt like a bit of a wally, to be honest, standing there counting hundreds of bars rest mostly - but it was still memorable & I got a mention in the comments (‘good cymbal roll’) yay! Going away to a contest in Bristol
(including the obligatory coach trip) for the first time was an eye-opener & heaps of fun!
I moved from 2nd cornet player to flugelhorn around 1992 & absolutely loved its more mellow sound, along with the responsibility of being the sole player. I then joined Helston School Jazz Orchestra, directed by the fabulous jazz trumpeter John Austin, who also gave me a trumpet so I could play the part with more authenticity! More great times & musical development ensued here, including winning Gold at the national finals in Manchester
(another riotous coach trip). I even played a flugel solo here, channelling those nerves into positive energy! Being a part of this group broadened my musical knowledge further, and got me listening to a lot more to jazz & swing around that time. I also discovered the Acid Jazz genre, where the likes of The Brand New Heavies (who continue to be one of my top bands ever), Jamiroquai & Incognito were played on repeat on my ghetto blaster!
My journey with Porthleven Brass Band came to a natural end during my A-levels, as school work increased & also many of my friends had left, and I then decided to take up the tenor saxophone which I played in the Jazz Orchestra instead of trumpet. Around this time I had also passed my Grade 8 piano exam.
I was also on sax & backing vocals in the local soul band Any Excuse around the time that The Commitments
was released, which is one of my best loved films to this day - another sound track that was (& still is on occasion)
played on loop.
Not really knowing which specific career path to take, but certain that it would feature music, I went on to study for a BA at Exeter University, where I continued with both the piano & saxophone, playing in the wonderful EUJO (Exeter University Jazz Orchestra) and the music department Sax Quartet - lots of gigs & happy times! Then in my final year I took on the role of Musical Director for EUJO, which was amazing! I developed my love of singing further during my Exeter days, by performing in a gospel choir, jazz quintet and stage productions.
My degree was largely based on Music History, and thus introduced me to composers & music that I wasn't aware of until then. I discovered a passion for Early Music, such as Palestrina, Pergolesi & Tallis - and learnt a new skill in playing Figured Bass on the harpsichord. I found the Renaissance & Baroque styles to be my go-to music for relaxation & concentration - and alongside this I was also introduced to (in complete contrast) Brian Eno’s Music for Airports which helped me to zone out completely & aid sleep - which probably had a big influence on my journey towards becoming a Sound Therapist (but more on that later)… I also enjoyed lectures in Music Therapy, Music Psychology & Electronic Music, whilst making friends for life & finding out more about myself!
Having graduated & still not entirely sure of what to do next, I spent a couple of years in London trying to figure it all out, doing various jobs. When looking into studying to become a Music Therapist I decided to do a PGCE first, to gain some experience & keep my options open. Without going into every detail, I qualified as a teacher & had some varying experiences teaching music to pupils from Reception up to GCSE level, and also moved from London to Chichester. After a few years of teaching class music, I then had a complete career change, working for the National Trust & doing various temping jobs, before missing music too much and taking up a position as Peripatetic Music Teacher for West Sussex County Council, as well as leading the County Youth Choir for a while. I also got back into brass banding again (this time on tenor horn), as part of Chichester City Band, with whom I was lucky enough to take part in the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall!
During these Sussex years, I had decided that Music Therapy would definitely be a suitable option for me, but then life took a different turn, leading to the birth of my eldest son Tom. A year later we moved back to Cornwall, so with the nearest Music Therapy course being in Bristol & my focus being on a new baby, these plans were postponed; however, I did find myself back in the classroom, as Head of Music at the lovely Roselyon School. My youngest son Sam was born two years later, and a couple of years after that I was putting plans in place to start up a new community choir when I stumbled across a TV programme called ‘The Choir that Rocks’. This was definitely one of those serendipitous moments, and led me to be instrumental in establishing the Rock Choir brand in Cornwall, and running choirs throughout the county for 8 years. This was a fantastic experience, with stand-out memories such as directing 150 choir members for a recording session at Abbey Road, being on stage at places like the O2 Arena, the NEC & Proms in the Park -
but mostly enjoying a new-found confidence & energy, and being surrounded by the loveliest people -
and it absolutely clarified for me that being a choir leader is simply what feels right.
During the last five years in particular I have done much soul-searching, having been through a divorce, a couple of house moves and navigating life as a single Mum. Over this time not only have I gained flat-pack skills (!), but I have also explored different ideas of how I can find my purpose & really flourish. As part of Cornwall Music Service Trust I have been directing Cornwall Junior Choir since 2019, and I work with young people, supporting their well-being & learning through music, with the charity Music for Good. I'm part of a vocal trio - The Velvets - which is a wonderful creative outlet.
With an increasing interest in the healing properties of sound, I studied for a Professional Diploma with the British Academy of Sound Therapy, and have been running relaxing soundbath sessions since qualifying in 2019. I have recently done a DJ course & am working on combining these skills to facilitate amazing sound & dance journeys!
I also completed the Singing for Lung Health training in 2021 (Phoene Cave, The Musical Breath) so am now qualified to work in this specific area.
I feel strongly that we should all take a bit more time out to escape from our busy lives, and understand that singing, music & sound can help us to achieve this, and believe that I can use all of my experiences to share my passions in a positive way that will empower, heal & connect us.
Thank you for taking the time to read my brief musical history! I really hope that you will soon become a very valued part of Cornwall Choir Collective, and all the adventures we will share together.
Love, peace & fairylights
Jo
xxx
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