A VIRTUOSO conductor has celebrated his 90th birthday with a concert performed by a special gathering of singers and musicians.

Jeffery Babb conducted two thirds of the “thanksgiving” performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor at St Mary’s Church near his home in Hay-on-Wye on Saturday evening, January 30, following two years of preparations.

For 97 per cent of the talented performers, including top international artists, were former pupils, and he wanted to make sure they could attend.

Mr Babb was delighted with the celebration, held on the birthday of his late wife, Joan, which he said was intended as a “thanksgiving for the gift of 90 years; and on her birthday, for the love, support and tolerance of a dear wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and for the friendships and affection of so many former students contributing there to.”

Speaking after what was regarded as an “amazing” performance from the conductor, the choir and the orchestra, Mr Babb said: “What was so tremendous about it was the coming together of all the people who had played with me in the past. Of the 16 singers, 11 were former pupils. The orchestra contained five former leaders of my school orchestra, included in seven former leaders of the Grimsby Youth Orchestra. There were 11 fiddle players and seven of those had led the Grimsby Youth Orchestra. Michael Winker is still playing in the Berlin State Orchestra and his deputy plays with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.”

Also conducting was Geoffrey Lavery, husband of Mr Babb’s former piano pupil Linda Lavery, who played the oboe on the night.

The concert followed a day of rehearsals and a presentation from the performers, members of the Rochford Ensemble and the Wintringham Singers, of two shrubs for Joan’s “little garden” in the churchyard.

Neil Jackson, a viola player with the Rochford Ensemble, also made a presentation at the end of the evening, including floodlights for the church and a framed plaque as a mark of gratitude from the musicians and singers.

Addressing the gathering, cellist, Keith Horsfall, who took over as director of the European Music Week from Mr Babb, who had served it for 33 years, said the performers had a “lot to be grateful for.”

“Jeff taught us from kids. He taught us as young people in the Anglo German European Youth Music Weeks. I am a teacher and have done a quarter of what he has done. The people here were taught by Jeff,” said Mr Horsfall, calling for a round of applause for “Jeff the teacher.”

Mr Babb’s conducting debut came at the age of just 13 at a school concert. He went on to attend conducting classes and after studying at Oxford University became head of music at Wheatley Secondary School, Oxford, from 1951 to 1962, then at Wintringham School, Grimsby from 1962 to 1988. He conducted the Grimsby Youth Orchestra for 40 years, the Grimsby Bach Choir for 22 years and the Youth Music Weeks from 1972 to 2003.

Proceeds from the evening will go to the St Mary’s Choral Foundation.