We began in January 2024 when we sang Abby’s arrangement of the lamb with some other ladies! Her song made it to the final of Classic FM’s Christmas competition and was played on the radio at drive time!
Rachael Buchanan – Bass
I have been a member of Aberdeen chorus for 20 years, I joined, after my mum who was the then director, suggested I needed to have a hobby away from my growing family and she was so absolutely right! I have enjoyed chorus life over the years, being part of The Board, The Management Team, Choreography team and Quartets. My first quartet was Shindig. I sang with Sophie Radcliffe (Aberdeen director) and Andrea who is in Rough Diamonds too. I then sang in Spark Quartet, again with Sophie where we won a 5th place medal. Jump 10 years and Rough Diamonds have formed and we are looking forward to BIBA, this will be our first competition and the Region 31 convention in Sheffield will be our 2nd contest.
Andrea Flatman – Baritone
I originally joined the Aberdeen Chorus 20 years ago after my mum, a long-standing member, suggested I should give it a try. As a youngster I played piano and percussion and played in a few local ensembles and orchestras whilst at school and had missed being involved in a music group.
I have been lucky enough to sing in two Quartets over the years. Firstly, Bobby Dazzlers Quartet, then Shindig Quartet along with Rachael and our chorus director Sophie.
Rough Diamonds quartet were created in January 2024 after we all sang in a group put together to perform one of Abby’s original compositions, The Lamb. I am really looking forward to our competing debut at BIBA and Region 31 in Sheffield.
Lizzie Sinclair – Lead
I have been a barbershop singer for 11 years and have competed many times with Aberdeen Chorus, although I am new to competing in a quartet.
I have been the choreographer for Aberdeen Chorus for 8 years and have recently passed my DCP, taking on the role of Assistant Director.
I also have a musical theatre background and love performing!
Abby Twigger – Tenor
I played violin and viola and sang as a child and studied music at university… then graduated married and pregnant and music took a backseat! Five children later I knew I wanted to start singing again, and I was looking for a challenge, so I discovered barbershop and Aberdeen chorus in 2021. Since joining chorus I’ve learnt that I love to write music, and any spare moments I’m writing anything I can for choir, orchestra, children and myself to sing. At the end of 2023 I asked some ladies in Aberdeen chorus to record something I’d written called ‘The Lamb’ and the recording the group of us made was a Making Music Classic FM Carol Competition winner, being aired on Classic FM! That’s how the 4 of us RDs started singing together – we got our quartet together shortly after, and they have kindly sung other music I’ve written at my concerts. My proudest composing moment so far has been writing a piece for choir and orchestra what was premiered at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. Mostly though I’m covered in food, teddies and lego.
