Director Kath calls time on choir role
IT IS TIME for Kath Ibbotson to finally hand over the baton after more than half a century teaching music.
She retires as musical director of Claritas, the East Cheshire Hospice Choir, with a musical coffee morning at the United Reformed Church on Saturday, March 23 (10am-noon).
Kath leaves after 12 memorable years volunteering with the choir which has raised more than £58,000 for the hospice.
She said: “I’m ready to retire. In many ways I’m quite sad, but it was the right time for someone else to take over and continue the good work.”
The community choir is conducting interviews for her successor.
She said: “I’ve been teaching one way or another since I was 16. The choir raises money for a fantastic cause, but the role of musical director can be quite tying. I always need to be in Macclesfield on Mondays for rehearsals and there’s plenty of preparation.
“The choir can’t make progress unless the MD is available, so the buck stops with me. However, there is a full committee doing lots of other vital jobs. I want to thank Hilary Balsdon, our accompanist, choir members and the public who’ve attended concerts for their support.
“I’ll enjoy the freedom to travel, pursue other interests, and be more available for my family.”
Kath taught at Fallibroome Academy for 21 years before retiring in 2010, though she was involved for another six years. After moving to Macclesfield in 1975, she taught music at Tytherington and Wilmslow High Schools.
Between 1983 and 2012, Kath became accompanist then a MD with Macclesfield Majestic Theatre Group. Her Claritas highlights include the 2014 Fallibroome concert; the 2016 10th anniversary concert and two recent Christmas concerts at the United Reformed Church, all raising large sums.
Kath said: “Sponsorship and donations offset costs so everything we raise goes to the hospice. Our members have been touched by the hospice in some way and fundraising is a way of giving back.
“We have three big fundraising concerts each year and perform at clubs, societies, nursing and residential homes. I also introduced singalongs because while people like to listen, they also love to join in.”
Kath will continue to play her piano. “After teaching music for so long, I do appreciate peace and quiet. I’m looking forward to attending concerts and in 12 months’ time might even visit Claritas to see how they’re doing.”
For more information visit www. claritaschoir.com.