SHE might be only 27, but Leigh Mason exudes confidence in her new role as music director of The Fron Choir.
The young conductor, who lives in Buckley, has taken over the baton from Ann Atkinson, the woman who in recent years guided the famous male voice choir to chart-topping success.
While some in her position might be a little daunted, Leigh’s enthusiasm for what lies ahead is apparent.
Because, despite her tender age, Leigh brings with her almost two decades of choral experience and has some big plans to take the 60-strong choir forward – by taking them back to their roots.
“I’ve always enjoyed conducting,” she explains, speaking to the Free Press before her first rehearsal with The Fron. “I’ve conducted choirs of varying abilities and ages – mixed choirs, children’s choirs – but I’d never conducted a male voice choir before, so it’s going to be a new experience for me.
“I know the choir themselves are excited about getting back into eisteddfodau and choral competitions, working on technique and maybe doing some of the songs they might not have done for a while.
“When selling an album you sometimes get stuck in a niche and they want to get back to some of the older, more traditional stuff.
“I need to look at their old repertoire and past concerts to see what they’ve done and, for now, just test out a few new songs. We want to concentrate on the traditions of the area, to regain recognition for traditional choral singing.”
Originally from Handbridge, Chester, Leigh began her own singing career in 1992 as a founder member of Chester Primary Schools choir.
She went on to become a founder member of Flintshire Youth Choir and was also a member of Four Counties Youth Choir, National Youth Choir and the multi-award winning Sirenian singers.
Having graduated with a Masters degree in performance and conducting from the University of Wales, Bangor, she now teaches at Helsby High School.
So how will she find a balance between her full-time job and her new role with The Fron?
“It will be very hard work and very time consuming,” she concedes.
“In my school they are very understanding, though, about how much I do, musically, outside school.
"Things like this are very important to me because, as a music teacher, sometimes doing the same thing every day could dampen your passion.”
Indeed, as well as teaching, for the past two years Leigh has been working as music director of the Mold and District Choral Society, so is already used to a busy schedule.
Her last performance with the Mold choir will be at the Buckley Elfed High School on May 8.
Although she now describes singing as her main instrument, Leigh also has a strong orchestral pedigree.
She has been a keen member of the Flintshire wind ensemble, playing flute and later as a member of the senior string ensemble and The North Wales Youth Orchestra.
At University in Bangor she was a member of various musical societies and also plays the flute, piano, double bass and trombone.
But where does this passion and talent for music come from?
“I’ve no idea,” she admits. “As soon as I started primary school I loved singing.”
How much does she know about the choir she will be directing?
“I’ve seen them before quite a few years ago and obviously I’ve followed their success as anyone interested in classical music would.
"I have a couple of their albums which I have been given as presents.
“It’s nice to know a little but it’s also good not to focus on what something was when you want to bring your own colour to things.”
Apart from The Fron, what other albums are on Leigh’s shelves?
“I have a massively eclectic CD collection,” she says. “A couple of days ago I was listening to Guns N’ Roses in the car.
"A few weeks ago it was Ella Fitzgerald. Of course, classical music has always been my great love.”
So will we be hearing a Fron rendition of Sweet Child O’ Mine?
“I think we might have a bit of a problem with the intro,” she replies with a smile.