Meet the team

Susan Eames - (Home Page)

Susan studied singing at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she also worked closely with the Welsh National Opera. She has sung with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and the BBC National Chorus, as well as many locally based choirs. Now based in Pendle, Lancashire, she is a peripatetic singing teacher and choral director at primary, secondary and sixth form colleges as well as giving private tuition.

She has 100% pass rate for ABRSM and Trinity singing exams and many students have gone on to Conservatoires and Performing Arts colleges. Susan is the founder and conductor of the award winning girls' choir the Arden Youth Choir aka Arden Angels of which many of her students are members. The Arden Angels have competed at national level in BBC 'Choir of the Year', ITV's 'Britain’s Got Talent' and Sky TV's 'Must Be Music' and also made several appearances on BBC radio Lancashire. They have performed in Notre Dame Cathedral and Disneyland Paris and supported the internationally renowned London Community Gospel Choir twice. Susan's services have been sought out by local stars including Charlie Dixon (BGT's Cheeky Monkeys 2008), Hollie Steel (BGT 2009) and Hannah Hobley (ITV's Benidorm and BBC's Cranford). Susan is regularly contacted to provide singers for TV work, events, weddings and session singing. She is a member of the Association of British Choral Directors, AOTOS, Making Music and regularly holds vocal workshops as well as conducting seven choirs.

Janet Ismail

Janet Ismail began her musical studies with organist Charles Myers in Clitheroe and went on to study piano and organ at trinity College of Music ,London. After graduating she was appointed Organist and Musical director at a large Baptist Church in London and taugth music for several years. She returned to live in Clitheroe in 1997 with her husband and young family , and has become increasingly active in the local musical scene. She teaches piano and her accompanying skills are much in demand by singers and instrumentalists.

Peter Elmer

Peter was born in Rawtenstall in 1952. He began piano lessons at the age of seven and was educated at Haslingden Secondary Modern School and Accrington Boys Grammar School. While at schools he was a member of both Lancashire County Youth Orchestra and Lancashire Youth Choir. After 6th Form, he went on to study at Huddersfield University, gaining a degree in music. He began teaching in Kirkby, Mersyside, where he was assistant Music director for Knowsley Youth Orchestra in 1974/75. In 1975/76 he worked as a pianist for the Mecca Ballroom Organisation. Since 1976 he has lived in Pendle, teaching many hundreds of young people to play musical instruments. He is married to Janet and has two daughters who have both graduated with music degrees. He has just finished teaching at St.Christophers C of E High School, Accrington after   11 years and has been a tutor for Pendle Youth Orchestra for the past 12 years.