Betty Roe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Betty Roe MBE
Born	(1930-07-30) 30 July 1930 (age 95) North Kensington, London, England
Nationality	English
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Music
Occupation	Composer, singer, vocal coach, conductor
Years active	1976–present
Spouse(s)	John Bishop
Children	Three

Betty Roe MBE (born July 30, 1930) is a talented English composer, singer, vocal coach, and conductor. She has created many different kinds of music.

The Life of Betty Roe

Early Life and Musical Start

Betty Roe was born in North Kensington, London, England. Her father worked as a fish seller, and her mother was a bookkeeper. Betty started piano lessons when she was six years old. She learned from a local teacher named Madam Dorina.

During World War II, when she was a teenager, Betty began writing music. She helped with choirs at her local church. She also studied piano and cello at the Royal Academy of Music.

Continuing Her Musical Journey

After a short break, Betty returned to the Royal Academy of Music in 1949. There, she studied piano, cello, and singing. She also learned how to compose music from the famous composer Lennox Berkeley.

In the 1950s, Betty started writing music for musicals. She also worked as a singer for many London groups. She even appeared on TV shows like Top of the Pops. She worked with famous people like Cliff Richard and Cilla Black.

Family Life and New Ventures

Betty Roe married John Bishop, and they had three children together. From 1968 to 1978, she was the Director of Music at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She also started a choir group in the 1960s.

In 1970, Betty and her husband started their own music publishing company called Thames Publishing. After her husband passed away in 2000, the company became part of William Elkin Music Services.

Special Recognition

In 2011, Betty Roe received a special award. She was made a MBE. This award was given to her for her amazing contributions to classical music and composition.

Betty Roe's Musical Creations

Betty Roe has written over 300 solo songs. She has also composed music for choirs, churches, musicals, and operas. She created instrumental pieces and music especially for schools.

Her song 'Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience' is very well-known. It is part of a collection of songs for children's voices. Betty herself believes her Three Herrick Songs are some of her best works.

Vocal Works

Here are some of her other vocal compositions:

• Diva's Lament (1995)
• All The Day, four songs
• Four Ponder Songs
• Noble Numbers (1972)
• Three Childhoods, for two-part choir
• Three Shakespeare Songs

Recorded Works

Many of Betty Roe's compositions have been recorded on CDs. Some of these include:

• The Family Tree, music for children (1998)
• Jazz Songs; Euphonium Dance and Madam and the Minister (1997)
• Music for Children By Betty Roe (1998)
• The Music Tree: Solo Songs by Betty Roe (1998)
• Noble Numbers (2009)
• The Silver Hound and other songs (2017)

Works with Marian Lines

Betty Roe has often worked with writer Marian Lines. Together, they have created many operas, musicals, and choral pieces.

Operas

• The Legend of Gallant Bevis of Southampton (1977)
• Gaslight
• A Flight of Pilgrims (1992)
• Lunch at the Cooked Goose (2000)
• Welcome to Purgatory (2003)
• Brunel: The Little Man in the Tall Hat (2006)
• Swindon: The Opera (2012)

Musicals

• The Barnstormers (1976)
• Kookajoo and the Magic Forest
• The Most Wanted Faces (1978)
• Pardon our Rubbish
• Christmas Boxes (1980)
• The Trouble with spells is... (1982)
• The Mistress of Charlecote Park
• Destination London
• The Miracle Masque (1983)
• The Pink Parakeet (1984)
• Crowds (1988)
• Astron (1994)
• The Storm Hound (1996)
• Floating (2002)
• The Magic Fishbone

Choral Works

• Burd Ellen (1976)
• A Crown of Briar Roses (1977)
• Circe Beguiled, a scena (1978)
• A Quire of Elements (1978)
• The Blacksmith and the Changeling
• Songs for City Children
• The Family Tree (1982)
• A Cat's Tale (1990)
• A Cycle of Elements (1995)
• St George and the Dragon (1995)
• Sing the Millennium (1999)
• Dick Whittington (2005)
• Blue John (2012)