Stella was born in Sheffield in She grew up and lived in the Hillsborough and Wadsley Bridge areas until her late 40s and worked as a primary school teacher in the city until taking early retirement. She sang in her local church choir, first at Wadsley Bridge, then, after marrying Alan Jockel, at All Saints Totley where he was the vicar.
Stella became the church choir mistress and really enjoyed working with young voices as well as encouraging young organists. In her later years she also helped with music at Beauchief Abbey. Singing was her main passion, but she also loved travelling, birdwatching, walking and the countryside, and she lent her support to organisations concerned with protecting nature into the future.
Stella sang as an alto with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus for over 60 years, joining up in aged just More latterly Stella was involved in several trips made by the Chorus to Bochum, which was twinned with Sheffield after the Second World War.
She welcomed and helped with hosting choirs from Bochum on their return visit to Sheffield. The relationship with Bochum meant a lot in those post-war years, and has continued ever since, with joint performances as recently as when the Bochum choir sang Messiah with the Chorus in Sheffield City Hall.
Stella retired from the Chorus in due to health issues affecting her balance and died in , aged It is entirely fitting that part of her generous bequest to her beloved Chorus will be used to support young composers via this competition. She would have been thrilled. George Nicholson is Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Sheffield, having held the post of Head of Composition there between and During that time, he regularly conducted the University Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and New Music Ensemble, making use of every available opportunity to promote new work by emerging student composers alongside classic repertoire pieces and to foster and encourage the talent of young solo performers and conductors.
