Rosemary Kimmins, Musical Director

Rosemary Kimmins was born in London and studied singing and piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She moved to Norfolk in 1964 and for several years was Head of Music at the Old Hall School, Hethersett. During this time she founded the Norwich Boys Choir in conjunction with Kenneth Ryder and the very successful Norwich Barbershop Singers. In 1977 she moved to Berkshire with her family and was appointed head of vocal studies at Downe House, a girl’s public school near Newbury.

Choral singing was always her first love and her girls’ choir gave many concerts all to a very high standard and to the enthusiastic acclaim of its audiences. She continued her vocal studies with Maureen Lehane at Reading University and gave solo song recitals both in Berkshire and in Norfolk. Following her husband’s retirement, the family returned to Norfolk and Rosemary joined the music department of Gresham’s School in Holt.  

In 2002 she was appointed musical director of the North Norfolk Chorale and brought renewed vitality and enthusiasm to the choir. The choir has enjoyed singing a varied repertoire and recent works include John Rutter’s Gloria and Feel the Spirit, and Karl Jenkin’s Armed Man as well as traditional works including Handel’s Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G. Haydn’s Creation and The Seasons, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.