Mary Bingham became President of Ipswich Bach Choir in 2016.
Mary was born on the Isle of Sheppey, only daughter of a Royal Marine Bandmaster, who gave her a life-long love of music (Mary remembers ‘conducting’ her father’s band at a concert aged 5!)
She had an excellent musical education at Sittingbourne Girl’s Grammar School, playing piano and violin and conducting the school choir, and studied music and education at Trent Park College. She went on to be Director of Music at Westwood Girls School in London and the Shirley High School in Croydon, where she founded and conducted the Croydon Youth Choir, before moving to Ipswich in 1973 with husband Bob and their two young daughters. Mary and Bob joined Ipswich Bach Choir in 1974, and Mary became Deputy Conductor to the late Dr Merlin Channon, our previous President.
Mary was Director of Music at Amberfield School, Nacton, from 1979-2004. Her School Choir joined Ipswich Bach Choir on several occasions for concerts, such as Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus and Britten’s St Nicolas.
Mary was Assistant Conductor of the Ipswich Chamber Choir from its inception in 1984 to 2015. She teaches piano and theory of music, sings in the choir at St John’s parish church in her home town of Felixstowe, and supports the Eye Bach Choir and Suffolk Villages Festival.
Mary is honoured and delighted to be President of her beloved Ipswich Bach Choir after such a long association.
Ipswich Bach Choir 