Our Music Team

Headed up by the chorus’ Musical Director, John Palmer, the Music Team is made up of very experienced and seasoned singers, who help plan the future of the chorus, its goals, aims and also to help choose the music we sing.

Each section within the chorus has a leader who attends Music Team meetings. Their job is to guide and assist the members with learning music, and every few months they will hold a section rehearsal. In addition, the Music Team have a skilled Choreographer, who plans and teach movements that are necessary to enhance a song. After all, we are not a choir who stands still – we like to make the most of the visual aspect.

We also have a Deputy Director who steps in and directs the chorus during rehearsals or coaching sessions as well as to offer expertise.

Meet our Musical Director

More about Spinnaker Chorus

Cathy Ball

Deputy Director & Bass Section Leader

Cathy started singing in choirs and school musical shows from a young age. She discovered Barbershop in 1977, and started singing as a tenor with Wessex Harmony chorus. She won a silver medal in national quartet competition in 1978, and a bronze medal in 2012, this time singing baritone. Cathy was a member of Wessex Harmony for over twenty years and was their Assistant Musical Director. She joined Spinnaker in 2007 and has been Assistant Musical Director since 2011. Cathy’s favourite Spinnaker song is ‘Something inside so strong’ by Labi Siffre. She loves spending time with friends and family and sharing a glass or two of red wine with them.

Colleen Potter

Deputy Bass Section Leader

Colleen has recently been appointed to help run our Bass Section with Barbie Corstorphin. They make an excellent team and are working together to ensure the Bass Section is one to be reckoned with. Colleen’s profile can be viewed on the Spinnaker Board page as she is our Secretary too! Give a busy lady a job…

Mary Quinn

Tenor Section Leader

Mary started singing at school and later joined The Philbeach Society in London, performing in a variety of shows and Old Time Music Hall concerts. She discovered Barbershop singing in 2009, initially with The Pitchpipers and then, while living in Sydney, Australia, she joined Northern Beaches Chorus. Quite by chance Mary met a Spinnakerette visiting family in Australia at a rehearsal who encouraged her to join Spinnaker Chorus on her return to the UK. She’s been singing Tenor with Spinnaker since 2015 and says that her favourite repertoire song is When I Fall in Love, “a gentle, emotional love song with beautiful harmonies.” When she’s not singing, Mary enjoys cycling, tennis and Pilates, together with good food and wine and spending time with family and friends.

Laura O'Connell

Deputy Tenor Section Leader

Music has always been a big part of Laura’s life. She played recorder and clarinet and sang in the choir at junior school. At senior school she joined the brass band playing the B♭ cornet and the E♭ soprano, and won the school music prize. She continued to play in local bands after leaving school except when raising her children. Laura is a founder member of Spinnaker and in its infancy had a supporting role as assistant music director and baritone section leader. Her favourite song is ‘Defying Gravity’ by Stephen Schwartz. Laura is still a member of a local band playing the flugelhorn. She enjoys looking after her grandchildren and spending time with family and friends.

Julia Wallis

Lead Section Leader

Julia began singing at a young age appearing in school productions such as Sweeney Todd and Carousel, as well as performing on the Rolf Harris show when she was just 10 years old. At 14 she was the youngest member of the Milton Glee Club but left after 12 years to bring up her family. Julia was introduced to barbershop in 2002 after an early morning encounter with the late Lucinda Rogers-Belk, who she caught wearing crazy nail varnish on her way to barbershop convention. Julia’s favourite song from the repertoire is ‘You’re so vain’ by Carly Simon. When she’s not singing Julia enjoys watching period dramas, reading about Henry VIII and the Plantagenet’s and revamping furniture.

Karen Hewson

Deputy Lead Section Leader

Karen started singing and dancing in school musical productions as a child in London. Then as a teenager she enjoyed singing jazz with the huge Brent Schools’ Choir. Karen was introduced to Spinnaker by a friend in 2011 “when I first heard Spinnaker sing their close harmonies at their rehearsal it was literally life changing, I had to join them. The enormous bond of friendship within Spinnaker is so important to me as is the emotional experience and excitement of glamorous costumes, performing and competing, winning medals and trophies.” Karen also enjoys classical singing as first Alto with Portsmouth Choral Union, visiting family around the world, boating, motor biking and helping to care for her beautiful new granddaughter, Lilly.

Liz King

Baritone Section Leader

Liz grew up in a musical family and enjoyed singing in choirs when she was at school. More recently she met a member of Spinnaker who invited her along to a rehearsal evening, and Liz quickly got the bug for barbershop singing. She joined the chorus in January 2014 and sings in the Baritone section. “I can’t get enough of singing with Spinnaker,” Liz enthuses. “If I have to miss a rehearsal it leaves a huge gap. So I do everything I can to get there each week, and I always go home on a real high.” When Liz is not singing she likes to spend time with her partner Tom and going to the theatre, especially to see musical productions.

Katrina Nutland

Resident Performance Coach

Kat has always loved to dance. She trained at the King Richard School before gaining her honours degree in Dance Studies at Roehampton University and her Qualified Teacher Status at Chichester University. She was Dance Captain for the Portchester Players aswell as a Session One dancer for Distraction Dance Company. Kat has danced on many famous stages including Disneyland Paris, The New Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for Children in Need, aswell as being part of StopGap Dance Company in The Seafarers. She is currently Head of Dance at Castle View Academy and also runs her own dance company Dare 2 Dance, teaching pupils aged 2 to 82! She enjoys spending her spare time with her little boy Charlie-Jax.