Son et Lumière This autumn The Society will be associated with an event at All Hallows’ Church Almondbury - an ambitious Son et Lumière production following the history of Almondbury from the Domesday Book onwards. Our foundation in 1836 is seen through the audition of a fictitious tenor, James Dyson. Several notable actors including Timothy West, Prunella Scales and Gordon Kaye will also be involved. The University of Huddersfield is playing a significant part in the production both technically and musically. There will be twelve performances during the Autumn, with the box office opening from August onwards. Watch the press and our website for further details!
175th anniversary commemorative items
Stop Press! - concert tickets Subscribers are reminded that if they are unable to attend a concert they may return tickets to Julie Hale, Subscribers Secretary. If tickets are re-sold, you will receive a refund on that part of your subscription (less a small admin fee). Contact Julie at 20 St Francis Gardens, Huddersfield HD2 2EU Tel: 07989 395066 or julie.hale@huddersfieldchoral.com Friends and Supporters: there are always returns for concerts and often gallery seats at an attractive price. Contact Julie at 20 St Francis Gardens, Huddersfield HD2 2EU Tel: 07989 395066 or julie.hale@huddersfieldchoral.com.
Do we have your email address?
You might also be interested in the commemorative items produced for our 175th anniversary. Our Choir Secretary Andrea Crawshaw has produced a collection of memories from members and associates of the choir. It is a fascinating read and costs £3.50 We have notelets which come in a pack of 10 and feature the work of 5 local artists – these retail at £4.00 a pack.
This is a cost-effective way of the Choral keeping in touch with you occasionally. We will never pass your details on to anyone else. Please email: julie.hale@huddersfieldchoral.com (Subscribers) cynthia.pratt@huddersfieldchoral.com (Friends) andrea.crawshaw@huddersfieldchoral.com (Singing members) Our website www.huddersfieldchoral.com is regularly updated – and we’re also now on facebook and twitter (@HuddsChoral) if you’re there too
Also on sale is a fine china mug at £8.00. All items are on sale at all concerts and will be available at the Ballot and the A.G.M RECORDINGS AVAILABLE Messiah Hymns Album Carols Album Crucifixion Belshazzar’s Feast Music by Bax
£10 (SPECIAL OFFER) £12 £12 £12 £5 £5
Do keep looking at our 175th anniversary page on the Huddersfield Choral Society website: www.huddersfieldchoral.com Recordings and merchandise are all available from 01484 666827 or e-mail: david.lockwood@huddersfieldchoral.com
A reception for our Japanese guests. Photographs by kind permission of Martin Jenkins
www.huddersfieldchoral.com
NEWSLETTER ISSUE TWELVE SPRING 2010
Oh to be in England now that April’s here… Early April was a busy time for the Choral with a concert on 3rd April at the Sage, Gateshead, and our own subscription concert on 16th April in Huddersfield. We joined Orchestra of Opera North under the baton of Bramwell Tovey and soloists Susan Gritton (soprano), John Graham-Hall (tenor) and William Dazeley (baritone) for Carmina Burana. Despite logistical difficulties with the coaches transporting us from Huddersfield it was an enjoyable day, and the concert was wellreceived by performers and audience alike. An especial highlight was the acting of tenor soloist John Graham-Hall as the spit-roasted swan, but William Dazeley (baritone) and Susan Gritton (soprano) were The Yorkshire Post thought “From the beautifully transparent sounds to the spine-tingling impact that thrilled in a high-octane and superb performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, the Huddersfield Choral Society have never sounded in finer voice and revelled in their wonderful surroundings.”
Our previous visit to the Sage in 2007 saw the Choral performing Britten’s War Requiem conducted by Takuo Yuasa - prior to our visit to Japan that summer. And we welcomed Takuo back to Huddersfield for our second April concert, the final subscription concert of the season: Judas Maccabaeus. Also joining us for the performance were members of the Osaka Symphonic Choir. Many friendships were renewed during their visit, and new ones formed during the week our Japanese visitors had originally planned in Yorkshire. And thanks (?) to the volcanic eruption in Iceland, the OSC members were delayed a week in their return home and made the most of their extended stay by travelling and sight-seeing in England. Masaru Okazoe and Hiroki (Harry) Nishida, Chairman and General Secretary of Osaka Symphonic Choir write “we had several HCS members coming all the way to see us during the extended stays in Leeds. We were very encouraged by their visit in such uneasy days. All seem to have been there to renew our friendship and to strengthen the close ties between both choirs”.
An interview with Brenda Mosley, President 2008-2010 Brenda, what do you do outside Friday night rehearsals and the Choral? I have a family business in textiles – it’s been going for 90 years and makes floor coverings. My two sons and I run the business. Outside work I play golf and tennis and bridge. I also do lots of charity work for the NSPCC, Lifeboats and other charities. How long have you been associated with the Choral? We’ve been Subscribers for years! – probably at least 20. As you know I was asked to be President in honour of my late husband, David. What have been the highlights for you so far? I am so proud of everyone! When you begin to sing I think “oh my gosh, I’m President of this Choir”. It’s a real privilege to be your President. This year the two Christmas concerts and Judas Maccabaeus have been highlights for me – but it’s so hard to pick out a few! I get loads of letters and emails after concerts, and love reading them. What are you looking forward to next? The President’s concert on 12th June, which will be my last concert as President. After that I will have lots of time on my hands - and already have plans for other things. But I will carry on subscribing, of course! Thank you, Brenda, and for all your work for the Choral. The Editor also spoke to Conrad Winterburn, Vice-President 2009-10 Conrad, what do you do outside Friday night rehearsals and the Choral? I’m retired – but I’m very busy. As a Councillor in Calderdale I have lots of duties. Outside that I like reading, walking, travel, theatre and cinema – I have wide tastes in all of those! How long have you been associated with the Choral? 46 years – and counting. What have been the highlights for you so far? Sir Malcolm Sargent’s 70th birthday concert in London [1965]. Singing in the 150th anniversary Royal Variety Performance. Musically, the first performance by the Choral of Rachmaninov’s Vespers [2002] was outstanding. And this season’s Delius [A Mass of Life] was a considerable achievement. Another one was the Barbican for a performance of Puccini’s Turandot [1982] – that concert really made you alive to the genius of Puccini. What are you looking forward to next? I’m hoping for a very successful 175th season – it should be very memorable. I do like the opportunity to do something we haven’t done before – there’s always something good about learning works from scratch. If the Choral did nothing but Messiah we wouldn’t be thinking to the future – although there is always something about Messiah, the closing pages of the Amen chorus always have something special. Having sung for 46 years, I think I must have enjoyed it! The number of people around for that length of time – not just me – shows there must be something about the Choral. Next season isn’t just about looking back but looking to the future. We agree! Thank you, Conrad, and enjoy the 175th season.
Programme of Future Events and Concerts
HCS Junior Choirs 25th Anniversary Season 2010-11 let’s celebrate !
Many of you will by now be aware of our plans to celebrate the 175th anniversary of our Society. We have been delighted by the response to our ‘175 for 175’ appeal and to date over 65 of our members and supporters have pledged their support. You can still do so if you wish by contacting our treasurer Adrian Lee on 01484 450321 or by e-mailing Adrian.lee@huddersfieldchoral.com
The HCS Youth Choir was founded in September 1986 during the 150th Year of the ‘Choral‘ - and as the Youth Choir is now part of the Junior Choirs we’ll be celebrating next season the beginning of the organisation and the subsequent 25 years of choral singing.
Choral members have entered into the fundraising spirit with monies raised from a variety of events from coffee mornings to concerts, cake making and Christmas puddings.
The exciting anniversary season will be launched on September 18th 2010 with a concert at St Mary’s Church, Honley. This is particularly poignant as it was the home village of Beth Sharp, the founder accompanist of the Youth Choir and Conductor of the Children’s Choir.
We now have a set of 6 display boards documenting the history and development of the choir and these will be touring local libraries, galleries and museums. They will also be on display at concerts. Our programme of workshops is taking shape, the first one booked for 8th October at Greenhead College. The new edition of ‘And the Glory’ is now with the printers and will be launched at a Civic Reception on September 28th Saturday 29th May Plant sale at 82A, New North Road, Huddersfield A variety of summer bedding plants, perennials, shrubs, herbs etc. will be on sale. Light refreshments served. £1.00 entry Saturday 5th June Walk and Sing. Commencing at Castle Hill. Circular walk in 4 stages – 13.5 miles in total. 3 singing stops on route. Drop out stages arranged. Contact Gaynor Haliday 01484 667849 Saturday 12th June President’s Concert. St. Paul’s Hall 7.30 p.m. Tickets from Julie Hale 07989 395066 Wednesday 23rd June Annual Ballot at Huddersfield Town Hall. 7.00p.m. Friday 2nd July A.G.M. Huddersfield Town Hall 7.30p.m. Saturday 3rd July Auction of Promises. Crows Nest Golf Club 7.30p.m. Tickets and details from Michelle Walker 01484 718316 Saturday 25th September Gala Concert ‘A Night at the Classics’. Guests of Hepworth Band. Huddersfield Town Hall 7.30p.m. Saturday 2nd October ‘Picnic and Proms’. North Light Gallery, Armitage Bridge. Individual Choir Members and Junior Choir appearing. Tickets and details from Jenny Lockwood 01484 666827
It will culminate with a special Anniversary Concert at Huddersfield Town Hall on July 2nd 2011, to which we are inviting past members of the Youth Choir, the Young Voices and the Children’s Choir (as it was previously known). We are commissioning a short piece of choral music that is appropriate for the full age range of the Junior Choirs from 7 to 20+ years. This will be premiered at the anniversary concert. Our wish is to have 300 current and previous members of the Junior Choirs singing on the platform. We are particularly hoping to contact all the 50 or so Founder Members of the Youth Choir. If you know any previous members of the organisation from 1986 to the present day, please ask them to contact us either by phoning Carole Kain on 01484 301610 or e-mail: susan. wilkinson@huddersfieldchoral.com Look for the group also on Facebook. A number of other events to mark the anniversary include jointly celebrating with the Choral at the HCS Christmas Concert in the Town Hall on December 10th 2010, and also for older members who took part in the CD recording, to join with the choral workshop and HCS concert singing Stainer’s ‘Crucifixion’ on 5th March 2011. There will be other activities to mark our own celebration throughout the season. A CD of the Junior Choirs in concert will be recorded to mark the celebration, and we are looking into the possibility of a short UK trip for older current choir members. We are also raising funds for this really exciting season for the Junior Choirs - one which current and old members taking part will always remember. Please help us to make it happen!
Congratulations to our Junior Choirs who won the Senior Choir class at the Haydn Wood 50th anniversary festival! This year wasn’t their year at the Mrs Sunderland festival, sadly, but we congratulate all those who participated during February. Special mention goes to David Fearn, winner of the Huddersfield Choral Society Rose Bowl for Young Singers, and Jenny Stafford (daughter of Jim, Choral bass), Kirklees Young Musician of the Year. We were also privileged to have a former Kirklees Young Musician performing at the special concert given by Joseph Cullen and Darius Battiwalla in November 2009, in the person of Rebecca Robertson (trumpet) – so we know the high standards of musicianship in the competition. Ed.
Cynthia Pratt, our Friends Secretary, writes We would love to invite our supporters to become part of our happy family of Friends of Huddersfield Choral Society. Many of our Subscribers support our Society by becoming Friends and we greatly value their contributions.
Subscriber Friends who are unable to attend the ballot are given priority in the subsequent allocation of tickets
• Prize draws
Tuesday 21 Decembe Subscribers’ Concert ‘Messiah’
Our Friends recently sponsored our recording of Stainer’s The Crucifixion. The Friends Logo was on the CD cover and ten lucky Friends received a copy in our Christmas draw. Friends are encouraged to keep in touch, and often e-mail or phone me: I hear what the weather is like in France and Africa as well as Morecambe and Manchester.
Wednesday 22nd December Public Concert ‘Messiah’
Benefits include: Priority booking for public concerts at the Town Hall [limited in the case of public Messiah tickets]
Friday 29th October Subscribers’ Concert. ‘Verdi Requiem’ Friday 10th December Christmas Concert Monday 20 December ‘Messiah’ The Sage, Gateshead th
• Priority on returned tickets for subscription concerts
• Discounted recordings of the Huddersfield Choral Society Cost of membership for The Friends is £18.00 joint membership, £12.00 single membership. Contact our Friends Secretary cynthia.pratt@huddersfieldchoral.com for further details or telephone 01484 600 352.