Nicky Salt
We are thrilled to welcome Nicky Salt as our new Musical Director, a role she has covered on an interim basis since January 2024.
Nicky is a highly experienced barbershop singer, judge and educator.
She was the bass of Sweet Adelines international top 3 quartet, Finesse, and well known not just for her singing, but for her entertaining mic technique during their final's packages.
Nicky is a poplar emcee and webcast host. She is the current Membership Coordinator of Sweet Adelines Region 31 (UK and The Netherlands), and serves on their Education Steering Group, Regional Faculty and Focus Group. She is also a member of Sweet Adelines International Faculty.
Whilst living in France for a few years, Nicky started up a community choir in a local town and also became director of SoundWaves chorus in The Netherlands and enjoyed many years with them until she moved back to England.
Nicky is a sought-after coach in the UK and Europe and was recently awarded the Ann Gooch Award for her contribution to the furtherance of barbershop in the worldwide area. She works with quartets and choruses and teaches classes at education events. She coaches holistically, incorporating all areas of barbershop from vocal production to characterisation and visual communication as well as rehearsal technique, goal setting & planning and the psychology behind the performance. Her humour and infectious personality as well as her passion for barbershop, make her a popular choice.
Nicky has 2 grown up boys and two gorgeous grandchildren, as well as a completely crazy cocker spaniel called Mollie (what is it they say about dogs being like their owners?!)
Past Musical Directors
Helen Whittick (2020-2024)
Helen Whittick holds a BA (Hons) in Music from the University of Bristol and is a national and European champion with her LABBS quartet, Avalon. She is also a qualified Sweet Adelines Music Judge and achieved her Directors Certification (DCP) during her time directing Viva Acappella.
Helen began singing with Viva Acappella in 2014 and since joining the chorus she has shared her talents as a section leader, on the Performance Team and as a board member. In 2018 Helen stepped up as Viva’s Assistant Director, under Gaynor Schofield's mentorship. She continued in this role when Doug Harrington took the reins in early 2020, and took over as Musical Director upon Doug’s departure.
Helen was the glue that kept us together during the COVID-19 pandemic and with her musical talents, technical skills and much patience (especially on Zoom!), continued our award-winning journey.
Helen and her husband James welcomed a beautiful little girl in the world in April 2024, and quite understandably had other priorities, so took the decision to step down as our Musical Director to spend more time with her young family.
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Doug Harrington (Jan-May 2020)
Doug is a Master Director in BHS, and well known in barbershop as a vocal coach for choirs and quartets all around the world. He specialises in facilitating musical flow and natural delivery of songs through interpretation, phrasing, word sounds and vocal inflection. He can also break down harmony parts and rearrange chords on the fly to take a song in a direction that best suits the ensemble.
Singing was in Doug’s blood from an early age – he grew up in Kentucky performing gospel and country music with his three older brothers, later going on to win an International Barbershop Medal at age 15 with The Harrington Brothers (1984). Doug is one of the youngest International Quartet Champions in barbershop history, winning a gold medal with Second Edition at age 20 in 1989.
Doug has worked with ensembles like The Real Group, and Rönninge Show Chorus. He has founded two award-winning choirs, Zero8 in 2006 and MaleVox in 2018 and was the main coach and mentor for quartets Ringmasters and Lemon Squeezy from their inception. He has also served as faculty at several prestigious choral festivals, teaching courses in directing, coaching, and how to grow and develop a choir.
Doug has been a part of the Viva family for years; helping us with coaching on expression and musicality, working with our quartets and cheering us on at various contests in the UK and the US.
Gaynor Schofield (2009-2019)
Gaynor began her musical career with traditional choral groups but was drawn to barbershop after seeing a ladies quartet on TV, when she joined Velvet Harmony in 1987. As a Musical Director, she won several medals with Green Street Blues in the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS).
In 2009, Gaynor founded Viva Acappella. With her drive, skills and meticulous ear, the chorus went from strength to strength; growing in numbers, scoring high in competitions and winning medals.
Notably, under Gaynor’s direction Viva Acappella started an award-winning career including making Sweet Adelines Region 31 history by being the first small chorus to win the overall Gold medal in 2012 and represent the UK & Netherlands at the Sweet Adelines International contest in Hawaii in 2013.
Gaynor continues to direct two chrouses and is also an active coach in three British barbershop associations.
