Rachel Jane Hickman

by Rachel
(Pembrokeshire )

I was a first year student at the conservatoire and proud to be a member of the choir that performed The Marshes of Glynn. It was a challenging piece both for the choir and orchestra. John Mitchinson was inspiring as the tenor soloist. I thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsals and when we rehearsed with the orchestra and John Mitchinson I knew I was part of something really special. I particularly liked the brass parts, the harmonies often moved in 5ths which created a haunting melody. It really painted the marshes in my mind. You could almost feel the mist and damp creeping over you while we performed it. It was an inspirational piece and rewarding to perform. I often listen to the recording on my 1950’s record player, it brings back such wonderful memories of my time at the conservatoire and a sense of pride to have been involved with such a thought provoking piece. A wonderful experience and a truly inspiring piece for me when I was a young musician.