LINDSEY PURCELL - Leader

Lindsey has lived and worked in Medway for most of her life, having attended first Parkwood Junior School, where she learnt recorder and piano, then Chatham Grammar School for Girls, where she took up the violin under the expert tuition of Martin Dale (among others!).

Whilst at school, Lindsey was a member of Medway Music Centre and for some time led Medway Youth Orchestra. She has also played in a wide variety of ensembles, including Rochester Sinfonietta, Tapestry String Quartet, Maidstone Symphony Orchestra and Oare String Orchestra.

Lindsey combines working as a music teacher and violin/piano teacher, and accompanying instrumentalists for their exams and playing in many concerts throughout Kent, with looking after her four sons.

Lindsey first joined the Rochester Arts Orchestra in 1977, under its inimitable conductor, James Clinch. After leaving to study for a BA(Hons) in Music at Colchester Institute of Higher Education, she returned to Medway, rejoined the orchestra and has never left.

At first, Lindsey occupied a seat at the back of the 2nd Violins, she gradually moved up the section and into the 1st violins, and for many years was playing immediately behind Derek Webb, our previous Leader. In 2000, she moved to the viola section, and was section principal until our November 2004 Concert, when she took up the Leader's position.

Lindsey was officially invited to become Leader at the beginning of our 2005/06 season.