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Interview: Dan Ludford-Thomas in conversation with Annie Rimmer
Annie: Thanks Dan, for agreeing
to do this short interview at what must be a very busy time for you,
but I’m sure there are lots of people who would like to know a little
more about you as our new Director of Music. So, starting at the
beginning, what was the first piece of music you remember as a boy that
made you sit up and go “Wow!”?Dan: That’s a really difficult question to answer because music was going on all the time and I was singing from a very early age, so there was not one particular piece.
There
was one particular experience I remember that made me think “Wow!” It
was the head chorister at St Matthew’s in Northampton: he sang this one
simple line as a solo, “O lamb of God”. It was just the idea of a boy
singing on their own with all the choir looking at them and in front of
all the congregation. And even at age 6 I thought, “I want to be him”.
I have always loved classical music, but I’ve always had a healthy love of pop music. So, I suppose if I was saying “wow!” because I really connected with something, it would probably be Michael Jackson.
Annie: Well that kind of takes us on to Choir Boy of the Year. Did it change your life? What did it mean to you?
Dan:
It did – it hugely changed my life. I couldn’t for a good amount of
time walk through school without being mobbed for the wrong reasons! I
couldn’t walk down the street without horns honking so I had my taste
of fame in a very small bubble in Northampton.
Annie: How old were you then?
Dan:
Thirteen. I’d already been relatively prominent, and then I did this
and I was on TV a lot and so it changes the way people act towards you.
It probably shaped what I want to do today because I didn’t want fame as an adult in the same way. I wanted just to be good at something and it didn’t matter whether or not I received the X factor sort of thing.
Annie: So that takes us on to your teaching. You teach young people singing in various different schools. What is it that really gets you passionate and motivated about that and, the other side of it, what can make your heart sink?
Dan:
In terms of vocal coaching, I’d probably be called an obsessive about
it and that is why I teach. I’m lucky enough to be able to do the job I
do and I’ve met some amazing people who have helped me learn, and I’m
still learning.
I don’t just teach the elite, but right down to grass roots level and all ages. I teach individually, I do choirs, amateur and professional... all the way through and that is my mission: that’s the whole point.
The
things that make me disheartened are people whose minds are shut off:
people who have an agenda about singing that means it’s not about
singing.
They think of a good piece of music for aggrandisement rather than the integrity of the piece and for the art of singing.
I
get disheartened when I see boys and girls and adults when they lose
their way in choral societies say, and think, “I’m not sitting on the
front row and I should be”.
And I think “but you are involved, aren’t you?” Things like that.
It’s the music that is important. We shouldn’t get too big for our boots. It’s the same thing as a maestro standing up front on a platform. You need to be very humble because you are afforded the opportunity of being able to work with people and their voices and music.
Annie: Is there something particular and different about working with a society like LCS with such a wide range of different abilities and musical understanding and knowledge?
Dan:
Yes. I’ve had to learn to find clarity in my thoughts. You can’t draw
together absolutely everything so you need to not panic, have a clear
head and actually have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve
both in the rehearsals and the musical performance. You have to read
what you’ve got in front of you.
With a big choir like this, everything is all about being extremely clear, more so than I am finding with a smaller choir.
Annie: Are you particularly enjoying something about us?
Dan: Yes. There is a boundless enthusiasm in the room which is brilliant, and to see that in adults is a real kick.
It’s easier to get it from children. You switch them on and they are very open.
To find adults with flexibility of thought is so fantastic. When I saw what the attitude and behaviour of LCS was like in the rehearsal I took [as deputy for Stefan Reid] just by accident for the African Sanctus I thought, “Ah, here’s another place that has the right feel – the atmosphere in the room” .
Annie: And what is our ‘growing edge’ or one of them?
Dan: Show!
I think you lot know how to connect with a piece of music but I need to
see that being externalised and presented to an audience.
And
I think that it should also be reflected in your audience itself. I
think a bit of hysteria can be created about Lewisham Choral Society.
It is that good.
Potentially this choral
society is very good because it’s got a good age span, the parts are
all very well oiled, enthusiastic, and there’s enough skill in them.
Enough innocence in there as well, and people who are serious about
making good music. That’s good.
As a result the ‘growing edge’ should be this whole idea of what we are working towards, the ‘show’: to present ourselves. All of us need to be proud of what we do.
Annie: If money were no object and Brenda won the lottery, and you could put on your fantasy concert (as long as it involved LCS), what would it be?
Dan: It would definitely involve LCS. There is no piece of music we can’t do.
With my musical taste I am not into Mahler so I’m not into the things that have gigantic orchestras.
I’m
into things that have a normal sized orchestra So in terms of the size
of piece we would do, it wouldn’t be about that. In financial terms,
what I would like to do would be to pay our soloists a top rate.
And wouldn’t it be fantastic to sing with an orchestra of even more standing in a top venue, maybe on the South Bank. That would be great. Because then you know you are getting a bigger message out, and giving a “Wow!” experience to everyone else there.
Annie: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Dan: Just that I am very very pleased to be here. It’s been very very easy to turn up to rehearsals and see what is going on.
I have a new son and I have him on Mondays. It’s very tough at the moment because he wants his Mum. And I’ve had a right day of it – although it’s getting better!
But to come in here [to an LCS rehearsal on a Monday evening] tired and then see this, suddenly gives me a whole new lease of life. That is a real pat on the back to all in the Society for the energy that is in the room.
Annie: I think that is true for all of us as well, Dan.
At the end of a really long day the last thing you sometimes want to do is come out in the evening. It’s dark and it’s wet, but singing with LCS is so uplifting and energizing. It’s fantastic. Thank you!
