Hilary Evans - soprano and Chair

What do you do for a living?
I manage the Treasury at the National Trust
Have you lived in Gloucestershire all your life?
Pretty much. I was born here and stayed until leaving for university in Leeds. My first job was at Warwick Festival so I lived there for 7 years until moving back to Cheltenham where I’ve been every since.
Where is your favourite place in Gloucestershire?
Minchinhampton Common - I grew up there and it still feels like home
Which bit of the building at Gloucester Cathedral do you love the most?
Definitely the cloisters - no other cathedral comes close to Gloucester’s architecture, and the acoustic is delicious too.
If you had to name your favourite choral piece, what might it be and why?
That’s really difficult, so many lovely pieces associated with great friends but if pushed, it’s got to be Bach B minor. Beautifully constructed and satisfying both to perform and listen to.
Is there a choral piece that you would love to sing in, but haven’t yet?
Several of the big ones, including Verdi Requiem - time to join TCF perhaps?
What has been your favourite moment or event during your time with the Saint Cecilia Singers?
Rehearsing Parry’s Songs of Farewell in a completely empty nave (no chairs) standing in a circle on a Tuesday evening May 2018. The centenary concert was pretty moving too.
Where in the world would you most like to visit, but haven’t?
Japan
If you could read only two books from now on, which ones would they be?
I rarely read a book more than once and always novels rather than biographies or poetry
Which four figures from the past would you like to have at your dinner table?
Tricky - are they all coming at the same time and would they all need to get on? All the great world leaders and artistic types tend to be controversial and temperamental in nature. Right now I’d like a good laugh so would like to invite a little outrageous behaviour into the mix from Billy Connelly and Tim Minchin, with Maggie Smith to keep them just about in line, and Rev Richard Coles to add a little kindness to the humour.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Music obviously, and Maths.
What other hobbies do you enjoy outside of music?
We always cook and eat well (it’s become a lockdown competition). I also enjoy a good house renovation project!
What are you most looking forward to after lockdown eases?
Booking some holidays and weekends away with friends.