Winter Newsletter

to uphold and continually renew a proud tradition of choral singing

Newsletter Issue 24 Our New President, Margaret Atkinson introduces this edition of the HCS Newsletter Welcome to the Autumn Newsletter and to the start of the 181st Season of Huddersfield Choral Society.

Margaret Atkinson

During the summer the Society was delighted to appoint Greg Batsleer as our new Choral Director.

Greg will gradually take over most of the rehearsals during the season and will be assisted by Fanny Cook, an associate chorus director with the HallĂŠ choir. We are also pleased that the Youth Choirs have appointed Alison North to be their Musical Director.

Our priorities at the moment are to work on the development of the choir and to increase the singing membership. We are also looking to recruit new subscribers and patrons. John Harman is our new Sponsorship secretary and is working hard to obtain funding so that we can improve the management and administration of the society.

AUTUMN 2016

In the meantime the recent recording, made in June, should be released in November thereby helping with Christmas present ideas. We all look forward to listening, to what should be, very enjoyable British music.

Our Christmas concert on the 9th December will feature our two new leaders – Greg Batsleer conducting the Senior Choir and Alison North directing the Youth Choirs. We shall be joined again by Black Dyke Band and the Presenter for the evening will be Gervase Phinn.

We have a great deal to look forward to not least our trip to Toronto in early summer next year, singing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. The programme will be very similar to the spring concert here in Huddersfield.

I would just like to say a big thank you to all our subscribers who came to support us in the Royal Hall in Harrogate this last spring. You really gave us great encouragement and it was splendid to see so many of you there.

To be asked to serve as President of this Society is a huge honour and privilege. However to be asked to serve for a second time is awesome and I hope I can live up to the faith you have placed in me to lead the Society forward. You can rest assured that I shall give it my best shot, however it is a team effort and it will be great to work again with such committed and enthusiastic people who make up this Society.

Margaret Atkinson

We hope you enjoy the varied programmes planned for this season. Our first concert was conducted by Aleksandar Markovic who is the new director of Opera North. Martyn Brabbins will conduct Messiah this year and Paul Daniels will return to us for the spring concert.

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The Society’s new Committee elected at the AGM in July is as follows: PRESIDENT Margaret Atkinson

Changes at the top

We look forward to seeing Darius in our rehearsal hall from time to time in the future and at the Town Hall organ console in our concerts when he is available.

Choir engagements

VICE PRESIDENT Geoff Priestley Greg Batsleer

GENERAL SECRETARY Jeremy Garside TREASURER Adrian Lee CHOIR SECRETARY Mark Taylor SUBSCRIBERS’ SECRETARY Jane Armitage SPONSORSHIP SECRETARY Sir John Harman LIBRARIAN Susan Sandford RECRUITMENT OFFICER Vacancy PUBLICITY & MARKETING OFFICER Vacancy PROGRAMME OFFICER Sue Turnbull MEMBERS’ REPRESENTATIVES Jane Sargent (Sop) Jane Williamson (Sop) Ruth Bostock (Con) Hilary McLean (Con) Stephen Brook (Ten) David Ward (Ten) Chris Kneale (Bass) 1 Vacancy SUBSCRIBERS’ REPRESENTATIVES Ken Wootton Cynthia Pratt (also Friends’ Secretary) NON COMMITTEE POSITIONS ARCHIVIST Malcolm Hinchliffe WELFARE SECRETARY Jean Parker

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Since the last edition of this publication much has happened and there have been significant changes. First of all we must give a warm welcome to our new Choral Director, Greg Batsleer. Greg’s current posts include: Artistic Director of the National Portrait Gallery Choir in Residence Programme and Chorus Director of both the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra Choruses. Previously, he has worked as Director of Choirs at Manchester University, Director of the Hallé Youth Choir and Assistant Conductor of the Amadeus Orchestra.

The HCS Youth Choirs have also had a change of Music Director and we welcome Alison North to that position. You will find more information about Alison on the Youth Choirs’ page. We cannot let this new appointment pass without paying tribute to Susan Wilkinson for her sterling service to our Junior Choirs over the years, both originally as accompanist to the Huddersfield Choral Society Children’s Choir and subsequently as Director of the Junior Choirs. Susan continues as a member of the Society and we wish her well for the future with her other professional appointments.

Darius Battiwalla has also stepped down from the position of Deputy Chorus Master of the Society. We are deeply indebted to Darius for filling the breach at the time of Joseph Cullen’s suspension and subsequent resignation. He has trained the choir with great distinction over the past two years, in addition to providing superb organ accompaniment on many occasions. Christmas Concert audiences will be familiar with some of his fantastic arrangements for Choir and Brass Band and I am sure you will be delighted to know that the Society has commissioned a new arrangement from him for this year’s Christmas Concert.

the Choir recording in Rochdale Town Hall.

Photo: David Ward

Last month we had our first Subscription concert of the season and we were delighted to be back in our own Town Hall for the first time since Messiah 2015.

After our relocation to the Royal Hall, Harrogate, for the final subscription concert of last season, the Choir went to Rochdale Town Hall in June to record a new CD of British Choral Music. This CD is due for release around the time that you will be reading this and it should be available at our Christmas season events and through our webstore. It will be a superb recording by the Choir, conducted

by Aidan Oliver and with world renowned organist Thomas Trotter providing most of the accompaniments.

Verdi Requiem in the Royal Albert Hall Photo: Adrian Lee

In September, the Choir was in London to take part in a performance of Verdi Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Brian Wright. The concert went well, which cannot be said for the coach journey home! Due to road works on the M1, the members were taken on a circuitous route through the Home Counties and the Midlands to reach Huddersfield an hour later than expected.

STEPHEN BROOK Editor.

Huddersfield Choral

Youth Choirs Celebrations and changes at the Huddersfield Choral Youth Choirs.

At our 30th anniversary celebrations back in July the choirs saw the singing season out in style with a wonderful sendͲoff for our longͲstanding (literally!) Musical Director, Susan Wilkinson. Susan was involved with the choirs since their inception, and worked hard across many years to nurture young people’s voices and give them the confidence and skills to perform to a very high standard.

Many choir members spanning the full 30 years convened at our anniversary concert on July 9th at Huddersfield’s Holy Trinity Church to showcase the skills, dedication and love for music and singing that began as a result of their involvement with the choirs. The concert was a triumph and served as a true illustration of Susan’s legacy. We cannot thank her enough for her hard work and dedication from her first day with the choirs to her last.

The choirs hosted a Welcome Workshop to introduce Alison to the choir members, and also invite new members to come along and see what we do. The workshop was a resounding success, with many attendees returning to join either the Young Voices or the Youth Choir.

The Huddersfield University Freshers’ Fair is a platform the choirs are always keen to use in order to let new students know about the singing opportunities in the area. Publicity Officer Emily Stones and choir members Sarah Bush and Alex Davis had a great day meeting the students, including many enthusiastic musicians. As a result of attending the Freshers’ Fair, four fantastic singers have joined the Youth Choir.

And so the Huddersfield Choral Youth Choirs enter unchartered waters and a new musical era, with Alison North leading us on to future musical endeavours as our new Musical Director. Alison is well known in the area primarily for her work with Lindley Junior School Choir, with whom she has enjoyed much success for a number of years, achieving many national awards in that time. Find out more about Alison and her ideas for taking the Youth Choirs forward by watching the video on our website www.huddersfieldchoralyouthchoirs.com.

This was kindly produced by local filmmakers, Studio Patrick.

The choirs are currently working hard to prepare for a Christmas concert which will be held on Sunday 4th December at St Stephen’s Church, Lindley. This will be a fantastic concert showcasing the broad range of musical talent among our members. The choirs are very much looking forward to returning to sing at the Huddersfield Choral Society’s Christmas Carol Concert on Friday 9th December, and are already getting in the festive spirit in rehearsals!

There are some changes and challenges ahead, but we are all looking forward to another wonderful season filled with musicͲmaking, teamwork, friendship and fun!

For more information visit www.huddersfieldchoralyouthchoirs.com.

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DO YOU REMEMBER ...-25 ?

Friday 1 November 1991 Litaniae Lauretanae - Mozart Requiem - Mozart Northern Sinfonia of England Jane Glover – Conductor Lilian Watson – Soprano Penelope Walker – Mezzo Neil Mackie - Tenor Stephen Roberts - Baritone Malcolm Cruise reporting for the Huddersfield Examiner stated...

At first, in the Litaniae the chorus supplied elegant and refined singing, all of course at the demand of conductor, Jane Glover. Here was a beautiful balance, perfect attack, accuracy and detail, but in the sense of the piece, all with the right touch of delicacy.

Later though, the Requiem lent great opportunity for the chorus to emerge from its shelter. The pace of the fugal Kyrie revealed the singers’ stamina and the Dies Irae, which follows, had a stunning tenseness about it which kept the excitement at a peak. This was indeed singing of great clarity and brilliance.

Malcolm Cruise also reported for the Yorkshire Post in similar style.

Our Music Director, Martyn Brabbins, writes…

When is a chorus not a chorus?

The answer, of course, is when one conducts Holst The Planets with the Symphony Orchestra of India in Mumbai!

The closing sounds of this magnificent masterpiece, and therefore the abiding and lingering memory for an audience, is sung by an off-stage women’s chorus.

India has an incredibly rich and musical tradition, borne of centuries of developments and refinements. Resulting in an indigenous music of rare beauty and terrific complexity.

In recent years a developing interest and love of Western Classical music has emerged, and there is a growing audience wishing to experience first class live performances.

One result of this is the excellent Symphony Orchestra of India, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. I was very fortunate to have conducted the first two programmes of the anniversary season in Mumbai’s National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Brahms 1st Symphony was the centre piece of one programme and The Planets the other. It really was a privilege to make music with these musicians and to engage with such a dedicated and interested audience.

My ‘pre-match nerves’ before the trip were always going to be centred on the choral ending of The Planets. I have conducted the piece in a few exotic locations, including Mexico, Japan and Poland, and it is fair to say that the ladies’ choirs have on occasion left rather a lot to be desired!

I need not have worried about the Indian ladies. London based soprano, Patricia Rosario has, for a number of years, been travelling to various parts of India teaching, coaching and developing young singers and, it has to be said, with a good deal of success.

So the 12 ladies – actually 11 and 1 counter tenor! – had been hand picked and prepared by Patricia. First thing to note was that they sang from memory. Second, their intonation was virtually impeccable and third, they so clearly loved to sing!

Thus, after the initial shock of being on stage with a vast symphony orchestra, the twelve young singers evolved into one of the finest teams of ‘Planets’ voices I have had the pleasure of conducting. This really provided the icing on a very exotic cake for me on my first trip to a wonderfully inspiring country.

Warm greetings to the whole Choral community.

MARTYN BRABBINS

Photo: Selwyn Green

NOTE: At the time of production we have just heard that Martyn has been appointed as the new musical Director of English National Opera.

Many, many congratulations Martyn from everyone at The Choral.

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a proud tradition of choral singing”

For the last few editions of the Newsletter I’ve offered a sort of running commentary on aspects of the Society’s longer term Strategy. The last edition was an end-of-term report from the outgoing Committee and it drew attention to the fact that our ambitions for the Society are testing the boundaries of the capacity that we have, as a group of volunteers, to service all the demands of what aspires to be a professional organisation.

So it’s fitting that one of the first decisions of the new Committee was to take a long and cool look at the way in which the Society organises itself, and to ask whether there is room for improvement.

This isn’t something that can be done wholly internally, so research on the question has been put in the hands of a working group chaired by one of the Society’s subscribers, Andrew Bird - who among other things was for many years the manager of the Syngenta plant in Huddersfield, and has long been a staunch supporter of the Society. The group will talk to past and present officers and is seeking views from the professionals who support us.

But the way that the Choral conducts its affairs isn’t just a management question - it is the product of a long tradition and it belongs, first and foremost, to the members. And that will focus the group’s work..

By the time this newsletter is published, a discussion will be under way with the choir members about what matters to us, and how the Committee and its officers can best serve the interests of the Society. The plan is that the group will do its fieldwork prior to Christmas and the formulate recommendations which Committee will consider in the New Year.

It makes sense to look at the organisation of any enterprise from time to time. We all know, though, that the real burden on our volunteer officers is just volume of work, and that our ambitions to keep the Society in the Premier League of the choral world are adding to that burden. So at least half of the answer is going to be to generate more external financial support.

We were very grateful to find generous sponsors who rode to the rescue of the Canada Tour when it seemed likely to be cancelled because of the fall in the value of sterling after the Brexit vote, but that should also give us confidence that there are people and companies out there who wish us well and who can join us in ensuring that this mighty tradition of which we have temporary charge can be sustained and handed on.

John Harman

International investment advisors Brewin Dolphin are to sponsor this year’s Messiah concerts for the first time - and they want to include local music students as their guests.

The University Music Department and Musica Kirklees (formerly the Music School) have each been invited to nominate two of their students to experience the Choral’s signature work in this December’s concerts.

Regional Director Michael Craven said,

“

Brewin Dolphin is proud to support the world class musicians of the Huddersfield Choral Society. We not only invest our clients’ money well, but also in young talent at the business and have thrived for over 250 years by doing so.

The commitment to talent extends to the musical arena where we are pleased to donate two places at both Messiah Concerts for the students of Kirklees Music School and University of Huddersfield.

The Society’s President Margaret Atkinson welcomed the initiative and said,

“

“

“To uphold and continually renew

Brewin Dolphin sponsors the Messiah

“

Strategy Matters

We are delighted to have Brewin Dolphin’s support and look forward to a long and successful relationship.

The Four Seasons Supper Club Why not join our Choral dining club? It offers four events each year at specially selected venues. We also aim to include a short musical interlude with the music provided by individual members of the choir.

Each event will be for 50 guests and the club will accept up to 60 members. If necessary we will hold a waiting list. Bookings will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Should an event be oversubscribed then priority will be given for the next event to those on the waiting list. All events will be on either a Tuesday or Wednesday evening.

We aim to keep the price at around £25 a head for two courses and coffee. The menu will be circulated for choices to be made in advance. There is an annual fee of £5 per person to cover all administrative costs.

Our first venue will be at an exciting new venue in Farnley Tyas. This is under the directorship of Amanda Guest who is well known for her outstanding cuisine.

For further details and application form please contact Helen Marshall on 07718746085 or email helenfenay@aol.com

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Three Yorkshire firsts The Subscribers’ Spring Concert on 7 April 2017 features three works each given their first performance in Yorkshire. Toward the Unknown Region – a ‘song for chorus and orchestra’ – was Ralph Vaughan Williams’ first major choral work. He conducted it at the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival in 1907 to great acclaim. Setting a poem by Walt Whitman, it’s a short but energetic musical adventure, giving us wave after wave of excitement and elation. The Society has performed it only twice before; in 1964 and 1999.

Vaughan Williams was commissioned by the Society to write a work to mark its centenary in 1936. Dona Nobis Pacem is an anti-war plea for peace: a powerful cantata for solo soprano and baritone, chorus and orchestra, setting texts by Walt Whitman (again) and a selection of biblical passages interspersed by the refrain ‘Give us Peace’.

The first performance, in the presence of the composer, was conducted by Albert Coates, as Sargent was on tour in Taken from the concert programme Australia. The Hallé orchestra for the world premier of Dona Nobis were joined by soloists Renée Pacem in 1936 Flynn and Roy Henderson. A month later the same soloists took part in a BBC broadcast from London (with the BBC Chorus and Symphony Orchestra) conducted by Vaughan Williams and this is now available as a CD. It is fitting that this performance falls during the centenary commemoration of the First World War, as it was written in reaction to that terrible conflict. This will be the first performance by the Society since 1959.

William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, a setting of biblical texts selected and arranged by Osbert Sitwell, received its première at the 1931 Leeds Festival under Malcolm Sargent.

The Yorkshire Post reported: “Dr Sargent steered his forces through the tumult of sound with a beat of extraordinary vividness and authority. No one could have put more vitality in the performance, or secured a more splendidly forceful interpretation.”

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

The Society is deeply grateful to all our Partners, Sponsors and Patrons for the help that they give us to support our work in bringing high quality music making to our town, our country and occasionally the world. This season we are being supported by: CORPORATE PARTNERS University of Huddersfield Syngenta Fantastic Media

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So impressed with Sargent’s abilities were those members of Huddersfield Choral who took part that they lobbied the committee to appoint him as Conductor in succession to Sir Henry Coward (who had already indicated that he wished to retire). So it was that Sargent started his glorious association with the Society in 1932, continuing until his death in 1967.

Belshazzar’s Feast created a sensation in 1931, and its impact is no less exciting today. Scored for baritone, chorus and large orchestra (including lots of percussion and two optional 7-piece brass bands) it tells the story of the desolation of the Israelites in exile, the abuses of the despotic King Belshazzar, his downfall and the destruction of Babylon, and the final rejoicings of the Israelites.

Belshazzar’s Feast is a work which the Society has rather taken to its heart, with three recordings and 24 performances since the first one in Huddersfield in 1933 (actually conducted by the chorusmaster Herbert Bardgett, as Sargent was ill). It Rembrant – Belshazzar’s Feast, was recorded The Writing on the Wall in Liverpool in 1943, with Walton conducting, and featured in the second Edinburgh Festival in 1948. Further performances outside Huddersfield included the Royal Albert Hall in 1949, another recording in 1958, Vienna and Brussels (1958), Boston, USA (1965), Selby Abbey (1969), York Minster (1980) and St David’s Hall, Cardiff (1997). It was last given in 2002, with the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Cleobury.

We welcome back conductor Paul Daniel CBE and the Orchestra of Opera North for this concert. In March 2001 the Society joined the Leeds Philharmonic Society for a performance of Belshazzar’s Feast in Leeds Town Hall under Paul and the Orchestra of Opera North (which was then named the English Northern Philharmonia). The same forces reassembled a few months later for a CD recording for Naxos. Subscribers will remember Paul Daniel conducting a magnificent performance of Mendelssohn’s St Paul in Huddersfield in October 2014.

Jim Cowell

CORPORATE SPONSORS Country Classics (R.Gledhill & Sons) Inclusive Technology Ltd. Investec Wealth and Investment Ltd. Brewin Dolphin CANADA TOUR 2017 SPONSORS Neil & Judith Charlesworth Sandringham Financial Partners Thornhill Estates 1 Anonymous Donor

PATRONS Elizabeth Crowther OBE Mrs. Diana Franklin J. Donald Haywood DL Gerald and Christina Sutton Jane and Alan Pridmore Mrs. Betty Webb Richard Adkinson Wilkinson Building Supplies SS Components Ramsdens LLP

SPONSORS – PERSONAL W. Currie & Friends Helen Marshall Jean Parker

PATRONS – HONORARY Joanne Harris MBE Dr. Ingrid Roscoe FSA Alan Titchmarsh MBE

DO YOU REMEMBER...

– 40?

Membership News

Thursday 11 November 1976

We wish them all great success and enjoyment with the Society and hope that their stay with us will be a long and happy one.

Kyrie – Vivaldi Stabat Mater - Dvorak Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra John Pritchard – Conductor Janet Price – Soprano Bernadette Greevy – Contralto Robin Leggate – Tenor John Noble - Bass Clifford Grant – Bass Writing of the Dvorak in the Huddersfield Examiner, Malcolm Cruise stated...

Pritchard kept the chorus so very smooth and his clearly marked conducting, especially in the Tui Nati, kept a pointed emphasis on the rhythm. The unaccompanied parts too of Virgo Virginum were whispered perfection and earlier, where the sopranos and contraltos were heard singing in thirds above the bass solo, one felt totally satisfied.

The final chorus, Quando Corpus, has a deal of excitement and grandeur – indeed more than anywhere else in the work, and because until now most chorus work had been subdued, this was a glorious and majestic ending.

New Members We welcome the following new members into the Society: Aurora Lilith – 1st Soprano, Jennifer Dowdell – 2nd Soprano, Tania Jaquier – 1st Alto and Charles Brook – 2nd Tenor.

Sad Farewells Three Associate Members have sadly passed away since the previous edition of this newsletter: Audrey Shaw, Sylvia McGee and Doris Coppell. Also, whilst in the final few days of preparation of this edition, we have heard of the death of two former singing members: Tenor, Ron Gee and Bass, Tim Moscovitch. Tim also served as Programme Officer for the Society between 1985 and 1988.

Through our Welfare Secretary, Jean Parker, acknowledgements were sent to their families.

Long Service The Society is deeply grateful to all those members who give of their talents over such long periods of time. They provide a firm foundation onto which those that are able to join us for only a few years can add their valuable contributions.

In July, Cynthia Daniel received a silver salver from the President on achieving 50 years of service as a singing member. She was followed in August by Carol Randerson, who was presented with her 40 year service badge and in September, Susan Kirkby joined the long service ranks when she received her 25 year badge. We thank them all for their dedication and commitment to the Society. Cynthia Daniel receives her silver salver

for fifty years service from The President Photo: David Ward

DIARY Sunday 4 December 2016 – St.Stephen’s Church, Lindley – 3pm.

HCS Youth Choirs Christmas Concert Friday 9 December 2016 – Huddersfield Town Hall - 7.30pm.

HCS Christmas Concert - HCS Youth Choirs, Black Dyke Band, Gervase Phinn Tuesday 20 December 2016 – Huddersfield Town Hall - 7.15pm.

HCS Subscription Concert - Messiah Wednesday 21 December 2016 – Huddersfield Town Hall - 7.15pm.

HCS Concert - Messiah

April 2017 HCS Youth Choirs – Spring Concert.

Details tba Sunday 28 May – Monday 5 June 2017 Canada Tour - Toronto Concerts on 2 and 3 June in Roy Thompson Hall to include Belshazzar’s Feast - Walton Concert on 4 June in Yorkminster Baptist Church to include music from the recent CD June 2017 HCS AGM and Subscribers’ Ballot Details tba Saturday 8 July 2017 – Gloucester Cathedral Cheltenham Festival Holst, Hymn of Jesus - Vaughan Williams, A Sea Symphony

Friday 7 April 2017 – Huddersfield Town Hall – 7.30pm.

HCS Subscription Concert – Vaughan Williams, Walton

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IN THE LOOP In this section we will aim to keep everyone up to date with the many facets of the Society’s work.

MERCHANDISE The Choral Society could be the answer for many of your Christmas presents this year. First of all we have the new CD of British Choral Music, mentioned elsewhere, and now available, an ideal present for lovers of Choral Music. All our other CD recordings are also available, Messiah, The Hymns Album and The Carols Album amongst the most popular.

We have a new card for you this year in either notelet or Christmas card form. The image is a painting of the organ console inside our Town Hall by Yorkshire artist, Ann Davies.

The Christmas card is printed with Seasons’ Greetings wording. These will be available from 4 November at choir rehearsals and at our Christmas season concerts.

Also the now almost legendary HCS Christmas and Sticky Toffee Puddings, an absolute must for your Christmas dinner table. Again available from members or at our concerts.

CONCERT TICKETS Anyone who has not yet purchased their tickets for the Christmas Concert on 9 December or Messiah on 21 December should do so at the Kirklees box office before seats run out. There may also be some seats for the Subscribers’ performance of Messiah on Tuesday 20 December.

The spring concert this season is on Friday 7 April 2017 and is an absolute feast of the best of British music. It features Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast and Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem (commissioned by HCS for our centenary in 1936). More details of this fabulous concert in Jim Cowell’s excellent article elsewhere in this issue. Anyone interested in tickets for this concert should contact our Subscribers’ Secretary, Jane Armitage – contact details on the website.

CANADA TOUR Details of our trip are now mostly confirmed. The Choir will fly to Toronto on Sunday 28 May 2017 and, after a couple of days recuperation at Niagara, will start a heavy rehearsal schedule for concerts in the Roy Thompson Hall on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June. We will again be performing Belshazzar’s Feast, this time with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. On Sunday afternoon, 4 June, we have a choirs and organ concert in Yorkminster Baptist Church where the two choirs will perform separately. We will be singing some of the items from our new CD. CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL Before the Summer break the Choir will be joining the newly formed Cheltenham Festival Chorus and the Saloman Orchestra in performances of Holst Hymn of Jesus and Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony. Our Music Director, Martyn Brabbins, will conduct the concert, which is on Saturday 8 July in Gloucester Cathedral. This will be the Society’s first engagement in Gloucester Cathedral, which we look forward to very much.

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National Honours We are aware that during the year at least three individuals with close connections to the Society have received national honours.

Subscriber and former President Peter Sunderland was awarded an MBE

by Her Majesty the Queen, in a ceremony at Windsor Castle in April. The award was in recognition of Peter’s ‘Voluntary Service to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the community in West Yorkshire’. Peter has been a trustee of the YAA for over twelve years, with nine years as its Chairman. The picture shows Peter, his wife Margaret and grandchildren outside Windsor Castle.

Former Choir member, Gill Robinson has received an OBE. The award was for ‘Service to Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities’. In particular her consistently effective leadership of Castle Hill School at Newsome. She is also a National leader in Education, in which role she steers and mentors talented and aspiring head teachers in Special Educational Needs, working with the Department of Education. The picture shows Gill with her award.

Subscriber and former Publicity Officer Christine (Chris) Wilkinson has been honoured with the award of an MBE. The award was given for ‘Services to the Textile Industry’. She is seen here with her award and wearing a new outfit, which we understand was specially designed and produced for her by students from the Textile Department of the University.

Many congratulations to all three of our friends for these highly deserved honours.

Cutting down on paper and postage The Society is trying to reduce its costs, both monetarily and environmentally, by sending out fewer paper copies of the newsletter. If you would be willing to receive the newsletter by e-mail from now on, please send your name, address and category (ie Associate Member, Subscriber, Sponsor or Friend) to our editor, Stephen Brook @ stephen.brook1@ntlworld.com NB. If you have already informed us due to reading this in a previous edition, there is no need to get in touch again.