The future of a beloved women’s choir is now secure, following the appointment of a new musical director who will take the reins starting in 2026.
The Major Oak Pop Choir, located in Edwinstowe, found itself in a precarious position when its founding leader announced her plans to retire and move to Northumberland. However, after a thorough recruitment process during the autumn months, Thea Avison, aged 46, has been selected to lead the choir, with her inaugural session scheduled for January 12th.
"It’s definitely a big responsibility, but I’ve had experience leading both adult and children’s choirs throughout my life, and it’s something I am truly passionate about," Avison expressed enthusiastically. "When this opportunity presented itself, I didn’t hesitate to embrace it."
The Major Oak Pop Choir was established in 2015 by Pauline Daglish, a former music educator who started the group as a way to forge new friendships. Since then, the choir has made a significant impact, raising approximately £90,000 for various local charities through their performances, typically held three to four times each year. Their most recent concert on December 7th successfully generated £5,000 for St Mary's Church Edwinstowe and the Edwinstowe Community Food Hub.
This last performance also marked the conclusion of Daglish’s leadership, during which she reflected on her decade-long journey with pride. "I felt incredibly humbled during our final concert; it was a beautiful culmination of ten years of hard work and accomplishment," she remarked.
Ms. Avison, hailing from Mansfield, admitted to feeling a mix of nerves and pleasant surprise upon learning of her selection as the new musical director. "The ladies in the choir are not only lovely but also exceptionally talented," she noted. "I’ve often found myself moved to tears or laughter while listening to them perform... their passion truly shines through in every show."
She continued, "Pauline has left an amazing legacy, and my goal is to continue building on that for hopefully another decade. I sincerely hope that the loyal supporters who have rallied around the choir over the past ten years remain with us and continue to enjoy our performances."
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