Sue Bland

I was born in south-west London, the third of four children. We were a musical family, who used to entertain our relatives every Boxing Day with singing and piano-playing while dressed in crepe paper costumes! I started piano lessons just before I was seven years old and was proud to achieve a pass at Grade 8 by the time I left home to go to Reading to train as a teacher. I loved singing while at school, especially our weekly lessons singing songs from the Oxford Song book as a Junior pupil, and then the more sophisticated repertoire of my secondary school choir. The Girls’ Choir at college, in which I sang, entered the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1972. We came third in our class, Once a year, my mother and I would choose one Prom concert to go to. Sir Malcolm Sargent was my hero, so we would often choose the concert based on him being the conductor.

I taught in London for two years, before getting married to Howard, a fellow teacher, and moving to Leicester where housing was more affordable. At that time, Leicester had an excellent reputation for music in schools and in the city and county generally, which we found to be absolutely true. I taught both juniors and infants over the years and had responsibility for music within three of the schools in which I taught. This included hymn practices, percussion and recorder groups, class singing and participation in combined Leicester Schools’ concerts. Before having my children, I joined Ashleyan Opera for a few seasons and started taking on piano pupils. I continued giving piano lessons until the onset of Covid, but never resumed lessons afterwards.

Once our children came along, we supported and encouraged their musical endeavours: Rachel on flute, alto and later baritone saxophone and also singing with the newly-formed Leicester Philharmonic Youth Choir, and Stephen with his cornet and later the trumpet. They both had piano lessons for a while, although not with me. Stephen made rapid progress on his cornet, playing in Ratby Junior Band before joining the Senior Band aged 13. He studied Music Technology at university, and said many times that he did not want to be a professional musician. However he changed his mind some years later when presented with a viable proposal from a friend of a friend, and has no regrets.

I am very fortunate to have musical grandchildren. I taught piano to both Rosie and Morgan, Stephen’s children, up to Grade 3, before they decided on their preferred future instrument choices. Rosie chose percussion, and after making great progress in her lessons, she joined Ratby Senior Band at the age of twelve! She is currently in her fourth and final year studying Composition at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire but playing in a different brass band now. Morgan decided he wanted to play the trombone when he was six. He took to it easily, and made rapid progress, and his talent and dedication to the instrument was clear to see. He won the Brass Cup in his final year at Wells Cathedral School and he is now studying at the Royal College of Music on a trombone scholarship, and loving every minute, it would seem.

Rachel’s daughter Chloë (17) absolutely loves musical theatre, and would like to work in theatre production in the future. I often go to see shows with the two of them in Leicester and London, which is always great fun.

I’ve been a member of a local community choir for a number of years but last year decided to join a local church choir (I’m an alto) as well, which I love. At home I listen to Radio 3 when I can. My favourite era is Baroque music, which I could listen to all day. I also like many works from the 18th and 19th centuries and am really getting into Mahler now, thanks to my grandson! I support Ratby Band as often as possible, as my daughter-in-law Amy plays back row cornet and I go to classical concerts at De Montfort Hall when I can fit them in!