Our Musical Director

Introducing Lorraine Howden

 Hi!  My name is Lorraine and I am Musical Director of Solent Sounds Chorus.  I was first introduced to the chorus in 1991 (where have all those years gone?) whilst waiting for my children to come out of school by one of the Mums who belonged to Solent Sounds, and I haven’t looked back since.  I started singing Lead and very soon I became Section Leader and Treasurer, as well as being a part of the first registered quartet in the chorus, called Spinnaker.  I was Assistant Director for six months before becoming Co-Director with Sian Jones in 1997.  Sadly, Sian passed away in 2002 and I have been Director since then.  I now enjoy singing Tenor in a Quartet called Chatterbox.

I started singing from as young as seven.  My family all belonged to the Salvation Army and my Mum and uncles, along with their families (fourteen of us) and I, used to go out as a group and sing.  When I was about fourteen, I became Assistant Director of the Young People’s Choir, so I guess that Solent Sounds is just a ‘grown-up’ step from my younger days!

My involvement with the Sweet Adeline organisation on a regional basis has included the post of Directors’ Co-ordinator and editor of the newsletter, “Harmony Rag”.

What words of wisdom would I offer a new member?  Just give it your all…………. And enjoy!  Almost everyone I have had the chance to meet in the organisation has said that they wished they had got involved sooner.  The organisation has so much to offer – lots of education, confidence-building, fun and some great friendships – we only have to take that step!

I work in a local secondary school as a Senior Resources Technician. I am married to Brian and have two daughters, Sarah and Ruth. I also have three grandsons, Zachary, Marshall and Brandon.