Gillian Dibden MBE

After graduating from the Royal College of Music as a principal study pianist and second study ‘cellist, Gillian pursued her chosen career in teaching.

She immediately developed a passion for choir training and brought her school choirs to success both nationally and internationally, through the BBC Radio competition ‘Let the Peoples Sing’ a joint venture with the European Broadcasting Union.

More successes followed with her County Choirs in Berkshire, regular winners of the Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year competition, where she was also awarded ‘Choir Director of the Year’ in 2002. In the same year, a Churchill Fellowship enabled her to visit South Africa and Finland to study choral traditions there.

She has received invitations to adjudicate from organisations including Music for Youth, Choir of the Year, and Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year.

Gillian leads singing workshops around the UK, is vocal consultant for Slough Music Service and Academic Executive for the Montgomery Holloway Music Trust. In 2014 she was named as the first ‘Choir Director of the Year’ for the Association of British Choral Directors.

In 2009, she received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). This honour, bestowed by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 recognised Gillian’s longstanding work with youth and children’s Choirs.

She feels privileged to work with so many talented and committed young people through Taplow Choirs.