About the Choir
Past, Present & Future
Northwood Choral Society is a long established choir of around 30 singers based in Northwood, UK. We rehearse on a Sunday evening. At Northwood Choral Society we have Julie Bale, a top vocal coach and Professional singer as our Conductor, with over 25 years of experience of working with singers of all abilities. Our choir is also committed to supporting gifted young singers and their local community. Each rehearsal begins with a vocal technique session and the opportunity to work with singers of other voice types. We also have workshops and a wonderful 2022/3 season planned. If you'd like to join us please get in touch to find out more.
We are currently accepting members in all sections apart from Soprano 1&2
Music Staff
Julie Bale
Choral Director
Julie Bale is an eminent teacher of voice as well as being a well-loved soprano, conductor and Clinical Hypnotherapist for Singers. She has tutored many UK Choirs including the London Oriana Choir. She studied Music and German at Oxford Brookes University, continuing her studies with a PGCE from Goldsmith's College, University of London and an ARCM from the Royal College of Music whilst working with Elizabeth Robson. She continued her studies in singing and vocal pedagogy with Professor Janice Chapman AUM MOA and with Dame Josephine Barstow. She regularly leads workshops for choirs and has adjudicated a number of competitions. She studied conducting and choral direction with Manvinder Rattan and Sarah Tenant Flowers and with Amy Bebbington of the Association of British Choral Directors.
She continues to enjoy a busy career as a singer. She has performed the vast majority of the Oratorio repertoire with choirs all over the UK with regular appearances in Verdi's Requiem, Orff's Carmina Burana as well as numerous Messiahs and Elijah's and sings principal roles in opera with companies such as Dorset Opera, Berwick Festival Opera and OperaHerts. She is a Clinical Hypnotherapist working with singers to create powerful performances and lives.
Heather Toyn
Accompanist
Heather Toyn studied piano from an early age with Ella Pounder (a student of the renowned pianist Solomon), and continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music where she was awarded prizes for Piano Accompaniment. In her role as accompanist she has appeared at music centres throughout the UK and has also performed on BBC and ITV.
She taught piano at the junior department at the Royal Academy of Music, was Assistant Director of Music at Orley Farm School from 1997 – 2015, subsequently becoming Director of Music there from 2015 – 2017. Heather is co-founder of the G & T School of Performing Arts for Children aged 3 – 16 and combines this with her work as professional accompanist, teacher and coach.
