Music teacher, cellist and singer, Rosemary Joy Woodhouse, has died, aged 91, on 5th May 2018.
Born in Harrow, Middlesex on July 11, 1926 she attended the Royal College of Music studying singing, piano and cello, gaining an ARCM in singing performance and a GRSM as a teaching diploma.
After three years teaching music at Uplands School, Dorset, she was appointed as the first IW County Music organiser.
At County Hall, she met Eric Woodhouse, they married in 1952, and had two children.
She returned to teaching music at Bembridge CE Primary School, and later moved to Forelands Middle School as part-time head of music.
On retiring in 1986, she co-ran the Music Centre’s junior string orchestra and became choir-mistress and part-time church organist at her church.
Rosemary played cello with the Dunford String Orchestra and Ryde Philharmonic, sang soprano with the Cantata Choir and joined the IW Symphony Orchestra when it was formed.
She continued to play cello with the orchestra, enjoying the range and variety of music, until her death.
(obituary credit: Imogen Tew, Isle of Wight County Press)
Isle of Wight Cantata Choir are extremely grateful for the generous bequest which Rosemary bestowed on the choir.