‘So Long, Farewell’
‘So Long, Farewell’
Soo Bishop due to retire after 40 years of music in Merton
After over four decades of singing, playing and joyful music making in the borough, Merton Music Foundation’s Soo Bishop, will be stepping down from her full-time role as Schools and Projects Leader at the end of July 2026.
Soo will continue to work with the Foundation in a peripatetic capacity teaching and supporting special projects and events from September 2026.
Inspiring Merton’s musicians
Since 1985, Soo has taught in schools and community settings in Merton as a teacher, choir conductor, early years music practitioner and music curriculum consultant.
Not long after joining the core team at MMF in 2005, Soo was tasked with overseeing the organisation of one of the charity’s most prestigious events: its biennial ‘Music is for Life!’ Royal Albert Hall schools’ concert. These concerts have been a cornerstone of celebrating inclusive musical learning in the borough for over two decades, enabling over 10,000 children to perform on one of the world’s greatest stages.
‘Soo has worked with literally tens-of-thousands of Merton’s young musicians, sharing her passion and skill as a choral leader and educator. She is also much-loved and hugely valued by Merton’s schools in her role leading on curriculum planning and project development on behalf of MMF’
– David Rees, Chief Executive
A Merton musician
Soo trained at The Royal Academy of Music and pursued a successful career as a freelance trumpeter and brass teacher before qualifying as a music therapist and classroom music teacher, going on to work at Haslemere Primary School in Mitcham. She then founded ‘Play-a-Round’ in 1991, teaching music and drama to large numbers of young children in the Wimbledon area before working as a full-time Music Coordinator at The Priory CE Primary School in Wimbledon.
Soo performs regularly with the Central Band of the Royal British Legion and is the resident conductor of Wimbledon Community Chorus. In 2024, Soo handed over leadership of Merton Music Foundation’s youth choirs after over 20 successful years at the helm; her impact on choir members’ musical and social development during this time has been immeasurable.
Singing a new song
Whilst Soo will be stepping down from her full-time role at MMF, she will continue to work with the Foundation in a new capacity, delivering some teaching and supporting special projects and events across the Borough.
MMF will shortly be advertising for a new Schools & Project Leader, the new post-holder will continue Soo’s excellent work liaising with and supporting the borough’s school music leaders from September 2026.
