MEET THE BAND
& the Rhumboogies
The Vocalists
Sarah Beth
Tabitha Lu
Sarah Beth began singing in her local church choir, under the directorship of Geoff Walker, in 2000, before undertaking singing lessons from Susan Turner LSM a few years later. Sarah's voice rapidly developed into a Classical Coloratura Soprano; she began performing at wedding ceremonies and was also a member of various choirs, including Henley Chamber Choir and Ipswich Chamber Choir. After completing her Music A Level and Grade 8 singing with ABRSM, Sarah studied for her BA(Hons) degree in Music at the Colchester Institute from which she graduated in October 2013 with a 2:1. Aside from consistently achieving high marks in performance examinations throughout university, harmonies are what Sarah really excels at and, whilst studying for her music degree, Sarah consistently achieved 1st class marks in her aural examinations. Sarah founded The Three Chordettes after being approached to organise a group to perform Andrews Sisters' hits as part of a productions by Six Acre Productions (www.sixacreproductions.co.uk).
Sarah also enjoys arranging scores and writes out the scores for the band.
Sarah is registered with a London-based vocal agency, Hi Lo Singers, and regularly records remotely for the agency's projects. Some recordings of note are the Dunelm advert in late 2023, the Amazon Christmas advert in 2022, the BBC documentary Blitz Spirit, and Channel 4's Secret Safari into the Wild.
Tabitha Lu is our newest member, becoming a Chordette in November 2021 (replacing Lisa Day who had hung up her microphone for a career as a Speech and Language Therapist) and, my oh my, is she thrilled to join! Tabitha has always adored singing and all things theatrical, (her mum has said that, at two years old, she used to run into her bedroom at around 2am, sit on her and sing at the top of her lungs!). Ever since those early years, Tabitha has been in all of the different groups she could be a part; choirs, specialist vocal groups, musicals, jazz club, orchestra (she loves to play the clarinet!) and theatre groups, including The CTC.
Tabitha was trained classically - achieving her ABRSM Grade 8 with Distinction, loved singing jazz and adores anything and everything musical theatre. So much so that she set out to audition for drama school to study Musical theatre; Tabitha graduated in 2016 from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Ever since then, Tabitha grabbed every opportunity she could to perform, and loved every moment, doing Princess parties with Beau and Arrow Events and solo events.
Tabitha joined the Ipswich-based function band, "It's Fete", in 2020, which is where she met The Three Chordettes. Tabitha says she is the happiest she has ever been and can't believe how very lucky she is, especially that she gets to work and perform with her best friends.
Molly Rose
Molly Rose is a professional singer and actress who graduated with a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre but has been performing in ensembles and as a soloist for many years. Molly's love of performing began as a small child, when she joined the junior chorus in her local pantomime productions. Being part of the same amateur dramatics group, Molly and Sarah grew up in the chorus together and went on to take lead roles together - they have even been married on stage!
Molly Rose has always loved everything vintage, and treasures her early memories of singing wartime songs with her Grandad. Molly successfully auditioned in the summer of 2016 to replace Sarah Mai as one of The Three Chordettes.
Molly is also the presenter and 'face' of Bridge Classic Cars. Molly is delighted to be a part of The Three Chordettes, has loved every minute so far and is looking forward to what the future brings.
The Horn Section
Dave Rowland
Martin Hathaway
TRUMPET
SAX/CLARINET
Dave started his musical journey on cornet in brass bands of the Salvation Army. He went onto play trumpet in his prestigious Essex Youth Orchestra, eventually becoming principle trumpet in his final year there and touring many countries around Europe.
As well as orchestral trumpet, Dave played in several local big bands and the Essex Ska Band, "The New Town Kings", before going off to study trumpet and conducting at Leeds College of Music.
After graduating, Dave spent 3 years in a 6-piece Jazz band onboard Saga Cruise Ships.
Now back on land, Dave pursues a varied career playing trumpet wherever he can, teaching in schools and music centres, and conducting orchestras and brass bands.
Dave is currently the Musical Director for Tendring Brass, Conductor of the Clacton Concert Orchestra, and also Conductor of the Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra.
Martin Hathaway is a saxophonist, clarinettist, and flautist who has been a part of the London jazz community since the late 1980s. He has performed alongside some of the noted names in jazz, including Wynton Marsalis, Dave Holland, and Dame Cleo Laine, and is a long-time member of the London Jazz Orchestra.
Martin also works as a session musician, recording music for radio, television, and film. Highlights including recording and touring with Radiohead, and performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Martin is also a music educator of some 30+ years, most notibly as a Professor of Jazz Studies at the Guildhall School in London, and as a Director of the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra.
The Rhythm Section
Therese Miller
KEYS
Felix Bartle
DOUBLE BASS
Ben Steinitz
DRUMS
Therese grew up in Capel St. Mary and began playing the piano when she was 10. After studying in London at The Purcell School, the Royal College of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she has spent most of her adult life playing for ballet schools in London and closer to home. As such, she has spent several years as Company Pianist for the National Youth Ballet, performing at Sandler's Wells and composing the music for a children's ballet.
Therese has spent many years affiliated to several small theatre companies, composing music, and playing and singing on stage.
Nowadays, you can find her playing at Hintlesham Hall most weekends when not working for Dance East and Evolution Foundation College.
Felix started playing music at an early age, leading to him studying Double Bass at Colchester Institute and Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
As a freelance orchestral player, he has played in just about every major concert venue in the UK, and some “interesting” ones in Europe too.
Previously found on stage and in orchestra pits all over the place doing symphonic, operatic and musical theatre shows, Felix now plays mainly in London and the South East, and can still be seen doing orchestral work (and in the occasional pit), if you look quite hard as he likes to hide away!
Having hit the kitchen pots and pans from a young age, Ben graduated to a real drum kit at age 12 as a rebellion against his violin and piano studies. Outside of the local brass bands, orchestras and jazz groups, he has performed at the Barbican, the National Theatre, LSO St Lukes and done recording sessions at Abbey Road. He likes to arrange music for some of his regular groups, whilst commuting to and from London in is job as a Sound, Video and Communications specialist.