1st Soprano – Elizabeth Woods
Huddersfield-born first soprano Elizabeth has been singing with The Mastersingers since she was just 16 at the request of her father Alan Simmons, founder of The Mastersingers, after the death of her mother Catharine.
Elizabeth was awarded a Choral Scholarship to Royal Holloway, University of London, where she studied Music, sang in several choirs, directed the Chamber Choir and led the Chamber Orchestra.
She is now based in Durham, working as a Singing Teacher, Musical Director of Durham Music Youth Choirs, Assistant Conductor of Durham Choral Society and as a Soprano Soloist.
Elizabeth married fellow-Mastersinger Alan in 2003, and together with their three talented sons, Matthew, Jonathan and Harry, they have recorded and performed with the family band: “Woods.” Their music can be found here: https://linktr.ee/woods_band.
2nd Soprano – Joanne Smith
Jo grew up in Manchester, where her biggest musical influences were her Grandparents, regularly singing solos in her Grandpa’s church.
She was awarded two Choral Scholarships whilst studying Music and Teacher Training at The University College of Ripon and York St. John and then began Primary Teaching in Huddersfield.
An invitation to join the Mastersingers in 1993 has led to a life full of amazing musical adventures, the highlights being – recording 3 albums at Abbey Road Studios, touring in France and incredible concerts at Heaton Park and Huddersfield Town Hall. Her favourite songs are
the Jazz standards and songs of the crooners.
Jo now lives in Whitchurch, Shropshire with her musical family and also sings in The Advent Singers, directed by her husband. After over 25 years of being in the classroom and leading several children’s choirs, she now works as a freelance Singing and Piano Teacher in Primary schools.
1st Alto – Judi Sims
Judi lives in West Yorkshire but is a Derbyshire girl at heart and has sung with The Mastersingers since 1993. Prior to this she sang with several choral societies including The Huddersfield Choral Society. She is a former music teacher, and directed her own choir and various instrumental groups. Judi is also a proficient Viola player, and a member of Holme Valley Orchestra and other string groups in West Yorkshire.
Judi’s favourite Mastersingers track is ‘Swing Low’ and her best concert was singing in Heaton Park Manchester on stage with The Mastersingers in the hook up to the Last Night of the Proms from the Royal Albert Hall. Judi studied Music and Drama at Bretton Hall in the 1970’s, and that wonderful experience started her out on her musical journey. “Being in Mastersingers is just fabulous!”
2nd Alto – Anne Henshaw
Anne, although a Lancashire lass, has lived in West Yorkshire since training as a music teacher at Bretton Hall College of Education.
Anne has worked in various high schools in the Wakefield area and formed a youth choir in her home village. She also composes vocal music that has been performed by youth choirs, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus and even The Mastersingers themselves!!
Anne was asked to be an Alto ‘dep’ for The Mastersingers in 2014 but became a permanent member in 2024.
1st Tenor – Roger Betterton
Roger joined The Mastersingers from The National Youth Choir and Sheffield Cathedral Choir. He is now a deputy Lay-Clerk at Ripon and York Minster, living in Sheffield and York. Roger loves the opportunity to sing in completely different styles with The Mastersingers.
Some of his favourite pieces would be Three Times a Lady, Harry, I got Rhythm, Sing Agreeably of Love, Bohemian Rhapsody…. favourite Mastersingers concert? “ Difficult to beat the French concert near Carcassonne, watching the sun set on the mountain through the Church door”, says Roger, – “C’etait magnifique! ~ Mostly though it’s all about singing with a wonderful bunch of mates!”
1st Tenor – Michael Beaney
Michael has been singing since he was a child, starting in the local church choir in Chester-le-Street. He has been a member of Durham County Youth Choir, The Argus Singers in Durham, Close Friends, a male voice quartet and now The Mastersingers. He is also a tenor soloist and has performed throughout the North East making several appearances on local TV and radio.
He went to a Mastersingers concert in February 2012 and realised they were a tenor short. He plucked up the courage (heavily encouraged by his wife!!) to ask if he could join and was told he could cogtvfc 4me along and have a trial for a couple of months, “Thankfully no one has asked me to leave yet” he says, “I am honoured and privileged to be a member of such a great group, singing with The Mastersingers is an absolute delight.” Favourite songs – The medleys, Carpenters, Back to the 60’s and Cole Porter.
2nd Tenor – Michael Benn
Michael has been involved with singing in choirs since the age of 7. He lives in Huddersfield and works for a Local Authority dealing with Schools’ Finance. He sings in almost as many choirs as there are days of week! These include Wakefield Cathedral Choir, Huddersfield Choral and of course The Mastersingers. He has been involved with the group for a few years now, ”My favourite Mastersingers track is ‘The Voice’ from the ‘Here to Stay’ CD.”
2nd Tenor – Robert Drummond
Robert joined the Mastersingers in 2020, first meeting the choir through an internet meeting room during the Covid‑19 Lockdown and recording his 2nd tenor part from home!
Seven months passed before his first in‑person rehearsal, singing in a choir member’s garden, before his long‑awaited concert debut in November 2021 with Denby Dale Ladies Choir.
He began his singing journey as a young treble in St. Mary’s Church Choir, Shrewsbury, later singing with Huddersfield Parish Church Choir and the renowned Huddersfield Choral Society.
He particularly enjoys the challenge of mastering The Mastersinger’s eclectic repertoire, with favourites such as Kate Rusby’s ‘Underneath the Stars’, Charles Stanford’s ‘Beati Quorum Via’ and of course, Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Robert also sings with Christ Church Choir, New Mill and plays cello with the Holme Valley Orchestra.
2nd Tenor – David Kaye
David lives in Meltham near Huddersfield and has been with the Mastersingers for 20 years! He has been singing for longer than he can remember including Bradford Cathedral as a boy and Huddersfield Singers as Principle Bass. Co-Director, 1st Bass/Baritone – Rob Wilding
Rob is from Bolton and has sung Baritone in The Mastersingers since 1992. He is now retired from teaching Music and says he is looking forward more than ever to making music with this wonderful bunch of people. Highlights have been on the three mini-tours of France in the last 15 years where The Mastersingers enjoyed very enthusiastic audiences and where great mirth and hilarity was had by all! Rob also arranges for the group and enjoys that immensely. He says, “Mastersingers continues to be a very special part of my life.”
1st Bass/Baritone – Alan Woods
Alan was born in Sunderland and grew up immersed in Salvation Army music. He went on to train as a music teacher at Bretton Hall College and then proceeded to teach at various schools in the North East of England. Alan served as Musical Director of Durham County Youth Choir from 1982 to 1997.
At the age of twenty-seven Alan won the Sainsbury’s and British Federation of Youth Choirs Competition for a Young Choral Conductor, taking him to Sienna, Italy to experience conducting workshops at the Academia Musicale in Sienna.
Alan has been composing and arranging music since the age of fifteen and his body of work remains very popular with choirs across the country. His Christmas Cantata ‘This Joyous Night’ has been performed at both St John’s Smith Square and The Royal Festival Hall and as far afield as New Zealand.
Alan has recently returned to The Mastersingers after a very long absence. He loves writing for them – their unusual voice breakdown of SSATTBB is a gift for an arranger who loves to write close harmony. He always attempts to highlight the beautiful ensemble sound produced by the group. Alan is very grateful to The Mastersingers for accepting him back with open arms – “it is a real pleasure and privilege to be part of something very special”.
2nd Bass – Dave Barnett
Dave was born into a musical family and sang in his local parish church choir before gaining a choral scholarship to sing in the Choir of Magdalen College Oxford aged 8, where he sang treble until his voice broke 5 years later. He continued singing with the school choral society and on stage at school, but his career didn’t lend itself to regular commitments or rehearsals.
Dave rediscovered his love of music a few years ago when he was invited to sing with Gledholt Male Voice Choir, and now sings with Huddersfield Men’s Voices, the Choir of Christ Church New Mill and The Mastersingers.
He also plays bass guitar which he took up during the first Lockdown.
2nd Bass – Jon Sims
Jon’s singing career began in his home county of West Yorkshire in 1981 when he joined Holmfirth Choral Society and Honley G & S as a 2nd Bass. He spent several years studying singing, competing in competitions in Northern England and in 1983 he joined The Huddersfield Choral Society and later West Riding Opera Company. Jon performed several operatic lead roles and solos during this time before joining The Mastersingers in time to record their first solo album ‘Softly’ in 1995.
“Singing with The Mastersingers is always challenging but never feels too demanding – that’s got to be a good thing!
Best musical experiences?.. : the BBC Last Night of the Proms gig at Heaton Park; recording at Abbey Road studio 2; but best of all French tours in beautiful chateaux and churches, with a sprinkling of sunsets, stars and Calvados – absolute bliss!”
Co-Director, Drums/ Bass voice – James W. Morgan
Jim was born in Willenhall, Staffordshire. He studied at Huddersfield, the Royal Northern College of Music and in Indiana. He joined Mastersingers as Percussionist in 1994 and has risen through the ranks to become a Director, Writer and Arranger for the group, a Bass-Baritone and occasional soloist. Jim conducted the Holme Valley Singers and formed the Holme Valley Orchestra, both of whom have joined forces with Mastersingers on a number of occasions – for Alan Woods’ ‘This Joyous Night’ and for new orchestrations of Fauré’s ‘Requiem’ and Stainer’s ‘Crucifixion’. He was also Musical Director when Mastersingers broadcast the Daily Service several times on BBC Radio 4. ‘It’s difficult to say which my favourite piece is, as I wrote many of them!’ he says, ‘But I do much prefer singing to playing.’ Just when he thought he had retired, he took on the leadership of Huddersfield Men’s Voices (formerly Gledholt MVC) in 2021. No sign of hanging up your baton just yet, then, Jim.!
Double Bass – Robin Simmons
Despite having been The Mastersingers’ double bass player for over 20 years, Robin’s first instrument was actually the cello, which he played with many orchestras, quartets and ensembles throughout his school and university years. As a teenager he played piano with the school jazz band until, after just one rehearsal, it was politely suggested he might be better suited to an instrument he’d never played before – the double bass. This turned out to be a good move (mainly for the band, but also for himself), and led to performances across the country at venues such as The National Theatre, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the Royal Albert Hall, and a car park just off the A64. At around the same time, Robin started to provide a double bass accompaniment to his parents’ folk duet in their regular vocal performances across the North of England, and it was as a result of playing in that trio (aided by the convenience of sharing a lift to the concerts) that Robin’s father, Alan Simmons, asked him to join the Mastersingers. In the 20-odd years since then, Robin has enjoyed providing the bass line from his quiet position at the back of the band, but he still secretly wonders whether, one day, he might be good enough to play piano in the jazz numbers…
