Debbie Day

What do you do for a living?
I'm a music and piano teacher at Denmark Road High School.
Have you lived in Gloucestershire all your life?
No, I was born in South Gloucestershire and after University years in Sheffield and Cambridge, I moved to Surrey to begin teaching, then back to the ‘shire’ in 1999.
Where is your favourite place in Gloucestershire?
Ooooh, tricky! Walks in the Forest of Dean or College Green (since the Project Pilgrim re-landscaping). Both places are beautiful.
Which bit of the building at Gloucester Cathedral do you love the most?
St Thomas’s Chapel and the restored Lady Chapel, because of the Tom Denny stained glass windows (and also the amazing acoustic in the Lady Chapel).
If you had to name your favourite choral piece, what might it be and why?
Oh my gosh, there are far too many to choose from: Songs of Farewell (Parry) and I do love a good Requiem: Duruflé, Faure, Mozart, and Verdi are equally wonderful.
Is there a choral piece that you would love to sing in, but haven’t yet?
Tallis' 'Spem in Alium'
What has been your favourite moment or event during your time with the Saint Cecilia Singers?
Probably the concert in November 2018, which was moved at the last minute to the Chapter House. The choir sang ‘Take him Earth for Cherishing‘ along with beautiful solos from members of the choir and Jonathan. It was so atmospheric and one of my favourite concerts.
Where in the world would you most like to visit, but haven’t?
Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan.
If you could read only two books from now on, which ones would they be?
The Harry Potter series (technically I realise that’s 7 books, but I’m counting as one!) If I had to play to the rules and choose just one: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and also ‘Shadow of the Wind‘ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
Which four figures from the past would you like to have at your dinner table?
Hildegard of Bingen, J. S. Bach, Benjamin Britten, Ella Fitzgerald.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Music!
What other hobbies do you enjoy outside of music?
Ummmmm probably not much else.....!?! Actually I do love going to concerts/films and theatre; also cooking and good wine or gin!
What are you most looking forward to after lockdown eases?
​Seeing friends, singing and performing live music again.