A note from our Musical Director, Howard Kane...

Our main concert in the Autumn term will be on 22nd November, St. Cecilia’s Day, when we shall celebrate the patron saint of music with works by Howells, “A Hymn for St. Cecilia”, Parry’s “Blest Pair of Sirens”, a new work by Malcolm Archer and Handel’s “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day.” Not only will we be using the occasion to celebrate the gift and power of music to enrich our lives, but we will be using some words by two of the greatest English poets: Milton and Dryden. Our chior members contribution in the Handel Ode is relatively short as the two soloists have a series of dazzling and reflective arias. We sing of the creation of the world through harmony.

Our December offering will be another Open Evening on Monday 15th where we will invite our friends, family and community to sing some of their favourite carols and seasonal songs.

Our main concert in the Spring term will be a performance with orchestra of Handel’s “Messiah” on 25th April.

Our final concert of the season on 27th June brings together a kaleidoscope of popular choral pieces written by British composers. There will be Handel’s “Zadok the Priest”, Parry’s “I was glad” part songs by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Stanford and Sullivan, as well as music by Chilcott. The centrepiece will be a performance of Vaughan Williams’ “The Lark Ascending” which has topped the “Classic FM Hall of Fame” nine times.

This is a most exciting season in prospect, and I am sure that it will be one to remember.

Howard