Dr David Clover came to Sheffield in 1966 having been appointed as the city's Music Adviser to the Education Department. It was one of the earliest residential courses for music teachers and its daily choral sessions, organised by David, brought the first members of the Sheffield Teachers' Choir (as it was then known) together in 1968.
Following David's untimely death in 1979, The Teachers' Choir committee at the time decided that there should be a fitting and lasting tribute and memorial to his work. The result, in 1979, was the establishing of The David Clover Vocal Prize, the first competition being held in 1980. The David Clover Vocal Prize later became The David Clover Competition for Singers, and in 2010 was re-named The David Clover Festival of Singing. The original Vocal Prize provided an opportunity for singers to perform songs of their own choice with a view to being helped and encouraged by experienced judges of singing, and that ethos is still as strong as ever.
The Vocal Prize started in a small way with only two classes for those of secondary school age. Since its inception, it has grown into a competitive event of worth, high standing, credibility and stature in the eyes of discerning musicians not only in and around the city of Sheffield, but also nationally. It has also proved itself a worthy vehicle of encouragement and support for young singers. The Festival is now open to all singers from the age of nine, and its chief objective is to foster this branch of music making which was ever one of Dr Clover's greatest loves - singing. He strongly maintained, as others have done, that everyone has a musical instrument which can be developed - the voice - and much of his work was devoted to fostering the use of young voices whether as soloists or choralists. He believed that the voice deserved equal status with other musical instruments.
Over the years, internationally famed singers and teachers of singing have associated themselves with this festival including Constance Shacklock (contralto and Festival President, 1985 - 1999), Marjorie Thomas (contralto), Jean Allister (contralto), Rae Woodland (soprano), Nigel Perrin (ex-Kings Singers), Mollie Petrie (soprano and Festival President, 1999 - 2015), Elizabeth Watts (soprano) and Mark Wildman (bass, Henry Cummings Distinguished Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music and the Festival's current President) and our Patron, Lesley Garrett CBE.
Once the Festival is over, the DCFS Committee and the Sheffield Music Makers will be delighted to invite singers from the Festival to share in its events and concerts where possible.
The Festival is administered by the David Clover Festival of Singing Committee with supportive volunteers from the Sheffield Music Makers.
We are affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech of which Her Majesty the Queen is Patron. The Festival is also a member of The Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Regional Forum of The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech.