IF it hadn’t been for a tiny advert Liz Leatherdale spotted in the Gazette, she would never have got the chance to work for one of the world’s most famous classical music record companies.

And if she’d never worked for Colchester-based Chandos, Liz wouldn’t have had the chance to set up her own classical music mail-order service, which, despite the digital download revolution, is now celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Born and raised in Colchester, Liz has been living and breathing music all her life.

She studied music from an early age, encouraged by her late mum, Mary Goodwin, at Colchester Institute and the Guildhall School of Music.

She met her husband, James, while playing in the Colchester Silver Band in late 1970s.

Liz was working at the BBC, putting in long hours for not a lot of money, when she spotted the advert in her local newspaper.

She said: “Chandos was based in London, but had plans to move out to Colchester, where I was still living, but I didn’t know any of this until I saw that tiny ad in the Gazette.

“And thank goodness I did, because thanks to Chandos, I wouldn’t be doing the job that I love."

Liz worked for Chandos for 19 years in all and was part of the team which helped set up the mail order side of the business.

She said: “When they stopped doing the mail orders, I remember sitting down with my son and thinking ‘What am I going to do now?’

“I thought I had the perfect job mixing music with marketing and then my son, Harry, said ‘Why don’t you just create the job yourself?’”

Which is exactly what she did.

With the blessing of Chandos, she acquired their database of mail order customers and Colchester Classics was born.

“My vision for Colchester Classics was to be a knowledgeable, friendly and personal CD service of the highest quality,” Liz said.

“I recognised the importance to customers of that personal touch, in identifying their individual preferences and offering guidance to try something new.

“It’s this creative approach which has led to growth in repeat sales and attracted new clients, many through personal recommendation.”

Thanks to this, Liz has bucked the download trend offering a personalised service you just cannot get from a website, especially to her local customers.

She explained: “This month we have already taken our CD pop-up stand to rehearsals, including choral societies in Colchester, Tiptree, Chelmsford and Clacton and at other choral societies with the kind help of ex-colleagues, choristers and conductors.

“This unique idea was the innovation of Patrick McCarthy, originally trailed back in 2006, and is still going strong at the various choirs he conducts.

“Of late we have been privileged and fortunate to be actively involved with CD signings and sales at concerts with international musicians, including Tasmin Little, Piers Lane, at the inaugural concert of the Roman River Music Festival in the Mercury Theatre, and also with pianists John Lill and Nicholas McCarthy, at St Botolph’s Church in Colchester.”

On November 20, Liz and her husband, James, will be back at St Botolph’s Church in Colchester with international pianist, Noriko Ogawa, who as well as performing, will be signing copies of her CDs including her latest one of Erik Satie piano music.

Liz smiles. She is happy in her work. “Music matters and it is powerful on so many levels,” she said.

“I love passing on my passion for music whether it’s to a local classical music lover or one of our many worldwide customers.”

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