Classical Music- Choral Supplement 2013

CHORAL NEWS, VIEWS & LISTINGS FOR UK CHOIRS IN 2013

Staying alive Church choirs in the 21st century

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RHINEGOLD PUBLISHING www.rhinegold.co.uk CHORAL 2013 - Chosen cover - CS5.indd 1

YOUTH CHOIRS IN THE CAPITAL

CHOIR OF THE YEAR 

GIRL CHORISTERS 

NYCGB 07/11/2012 19:00:22

Among Angels

Peter Phillips, Artistic Director

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Friday 8 February, 7.30pm

I Fagiolini

A musical banquet of secular Renaissance dishes (with stagings), including works by Janequin, da Flecha, Lassus and Monteverdi.

Thursday 4 April, 7.30pm

Tenebrae

A programme based around the music of Will Todd and music that inspires his writing, including Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.

Wednesday 24 April, 7.30pm

Alamire

The evolution of Early Tudor polyphony, through the Reformation to Tallis and Byrd.

Wednesday 29 May, 7.30pm

The Tallis Scholars A concert to celebrate the anniversaries of both The Tallis Scholars and the unusual genius of Carlo Gesualdo.

BOX OFFICE: 020 7730 4500 BOOK ONLINE: www.cadoganhall.com/choral (Series discounts available) Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

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DEPUTY EDITOR Hannah Beynon LISTINGS EDITOR Sarah Reid HEAD OF DESIGN & PRODUCTION Rebecca Ward Murphy DESIGNER Daniela Di Padova PRODUCTION Joanne Roberts HEAD OF ADVERTISING Myles Lester ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES Ceri Wood John Ward MARKETING EXECUTIVE Frances Innes-Hopkins MANAGING EDITOR Keith Clarke MANAGING DIRECTOR Mark Owens PUBLISHER Derek B Smith PRINTED BY Wyndeham Grange Ltd Butts Road Southwick West Sussex BN42 4EJ PRODUCED BY Rhinegold Publishing Ltd, Rhinegold House 20 Rugby Street London WC1N 3QZ ADVERTISING T: 020 7333 1733 F: 020 7333 1736 PRODUCTION T: 020 7333 1759 F: 020 7333 1768 EDITORIAL T: 07785613147 F: 02073331736 E: classical.music@rhinegold. co.uk W: www.rhinegold.co.uk.

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MARK SAVAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

EDITOR Kimon Daltas

MARILYN TAYLOR

STEPHEN DALZIEL

CONTENTS

CHORAL 2013 4

NEWS

8

WINNING NOTES

We report back from this year’s Choir of the Year Competition

10 A CHORAL UPBRINGING The changing attitudes of church choirs

RHINEGOLD PUBLISHING

12 HERE COME THE GIRLS A look at the growing presence of female choristers

16 CITY SONG

22 THE MUSIC MAN

Ben Parry has big plans for the NYCGB

25 LISTINGS

Two new youth choirs start up London

FRONT COVER: GUILDFORD CATHEDRAL CHORISTERS – SEE PAGE 10 CREDIT: MARILYN TAYLOR ISBN: 978-1-907447-31-0

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NEWS BY LAUREN STRAIN

Swingle Singers celebrate 50th anniversary Fifty years young: the Swingle Singers

Half a century in action is no mean feat: and lauded vocal group the Swingle Singers intends to celebrate its 2013 anniversary in style.

Praised for tackling everything from funk to folk but arguably best known for its unaccompanied singing style, the multi-Grammy award-winning ensemble will acknowledge its trademark sound by heading out on a worldwide a cappella tour, taking in Dubai, Columbia, Israel, the USA, Canada, China and Europe.

They will also nod to the tenth anniversary of the death of Luciano Berio – who was

a great admirer of the group and one of the first composers to explore their earlier combination of amplified voices and acoustic instruments – by giving several performances of his Sinfonia at Milan’s La Scala, as well as in the USA, Brazil and Poland.

Two recordings will show off the group’s dual talents: as performers and composers in their own right, and as collaborators and commissioners. One will feature a mixture of arrangements and original material written by the Singers themselves, while another will see them working with numerous other

artists, writers and composers.

Before all of that, however, the group kicks off its anniversary year with its own festival, the London A Cappella Festival, at Kings Place from 24 to 26 January. Curated in partnership with Ikon Arts Management, the ensemble’s line-up comprises both traditional and contemporary artists, ranging from British choral staples the King’s Singers to Danish experimentalists Postyr and Canada’s popular a cappella outfit Retrocity. (Full weekend passes are sold out, but day passes and individual concert tickets are still available.)

And for those wondering how the Swingles retain their youthful complexions, a bit of history: since the group’s first incarnation in 1962, when Ward Swingle – who will be 86 in 2013 – gathered a group of singers together in Paris, the outfit has undergone a few transformations. The original French group disbanded in 1973; Swingle moved to London and recruited all new members, debuting as Swingle II and then toying with names from The Swingles to the New Swingle Singers to, finally, just the Swingle Singers. Since this London group’s formation, the Singers have never disbanded – they have just replaced exiting singers with new talent. And long may they continue. www.londonacapellafestival.co.uk www.swinglesingers.com

Chilcott among names for Canada’s Festival 500 Canada’s biennial Festival 500: Sharing the Voices has welcomed more than 10,000 participants from 33 countries over the last decade – and 21 choirs from Canada and the US are set to take part in the 2013 instalment, which takes place from 3 to 10 July in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

For 2013, the non-competitive event takes as its theme ‘The Power of Song’, and choirs have been invited to select pieces that ‘signify important landmarks and events’ in the singers’ ‘lives, locales and cultures’.

Between the opening gala at the Arts and Culture Centre (3 July) and the grand finale closing concert at the Mile One Centre (10 July), spectators can enjoy a mixture of small vocal ensemble concerts, and lunchtime and

afternoon recitals. Although applications to participate as a choir have closed, singers may register to ‘come solo’ by 21 June; two masterclasses, for voice and conducting, are taking applications until 1 February, and there is still availability on the professional development programme for small vocal ensembles, in which a capella groups of no more than eight singers work closely with Finland’s Jussi Chydenius, the UK’s Bob Chilcott and festival headliners, singing and beatboxing group Witloof Bay from Belgium.

Additionally, those interested can attend the Festival 500 International Symposium at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, a collection of talks and presentations bringing together academics, pedagogues and artists, which coincides with the latter

half of the festival from 7 to 10 July. A respectable panel of keynote speakers includes Francisco J Núñez, ‘extreme vocalist’ David Moss (Germany) and ‘The Singing Priest’, Dr Fr Paul Poovathingal of India.

Festival 500 was founded in 1997 as one of six major events that were established to contribute to the economic development and cultural morale of an area shaken by the closure of its cod fishery a few years earlier.

Newfoundland and Labrador has a long history of singing as part of community life – and it is this sense of togetherness that the non-competitive nature of the festival aims to reflect. www.festival500.com

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Worcester hosts international youth singing week A new festival for July 2013 hopes to encourage the UK to follow in the footsteps of other European countries in hosting more events for young singers from around the world.

Organised by Sing UK in association with the European Choral Association – Europa Cantat (ECA-EC), the first Worcester International Festival for Young Singers will bring together children’s and youth choirs from across the globe to the city from 19 to 27 July. A non-competitive festival, this celebration of youth singing will see a week of workshops, concerts, and sight-seeing trips for the participants culminate in a gala concert at Worcester Cathedral featuring the world premiere of a specially commissioned work from UK composer Bob Chilcott (with words by Charles Bennett), Five Days That Changed

the World.

During the week, Chilcott will be joined by conductors Carlo Pavese (Italy), Margrét Bóasdóttir (Iceland) and Sanna Valvanne (Finland/USA) in hosting the workshops – or ‘ateliers’. Each atelier will focus on different repertoire and skills, from movement to improvisation and intuition, and host around 100 singers (approximately 400 singers, or ten to 15 choirs of around 40 singers each, are expected in total).

The festival takes as its theme ‘Peace and Unity’, reaffirming the organisers’ ambitions to, in their words, ‘work towards a more peaceful world through the engagement of young people from different nations coming together to sing’.

‘I’ve been conducting at events like

Getting a handle on Handel

TOM GREGORY

A new arrangement of Handel’s Messiah aims to make the work accessible to less confident singers.

Having sung it all around the world as a member of The Sixteen, recorded it for numerous groups, sung the solos and

conducted the work, Fiona Evans’ decision to undertake this project has come from her 14 years of experience leading community choirs and workshops with amateur singers.

A significant departure is that Evans decided to group the male section together

Messiah in the community: Fiona Evans with choir in rehearsal

this in other parts of Europe for years,’ commented festival artistic director and artistic director of Sing UK Malcolm Goldring, ‘and I’ve been asked the same question again and again: “Why don’t you have something like this in the UK?”. Now we can look forward to putting this country firmly on the international singing map, encouraging our best children’s and youth choirs to sing alongside similar groups from around the world.’

Children’s and youth choirs from anywhere in the world are invited to apply by a deadline of 15 December. A five-day residential conducting course for young choral directors aged 18 to 30, hosted by the Association of British Choral Directors, will run concurrent to the festival. www.singuk.org/wifys as the tenor section tended to be weak in number, so the arrangement is for three parts, ‘tops, middles and lows’. Also, the very high, exposed notes have been taken out and often replaced an octave below while the difficult florid sections are now replaced by a much easier pattern of notes following the shape of the original semiquaver passage. The whole arrangement is designed to still work with the original orchestration.

The first performance of the new arrangement will take place at St Francis Church in Salisbury on 1 December, for which Evans has called upon the personnel within her choirs to bring an inventive slant to interpreting the solo sections of the work: A Macmillan nurse will read the words ‘Comfort ye’ over the music, a poem by Benjamin Zephaniah, Neighbours, will be read in the place of ‘But who may abide’, and a short talk on the celebratory associations of champagne will replace ‘Rejoice’.

On 2 December Chris de Souza will direct a ‘Messiah from Scratch’ using the arrangement at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, while the score will be published in early 2013 by Spire Books. www.babesandballads.com www.spirebooks.co.uk www.watermill.org.uk CHORAL 2013 RHINEGOLD.CO.UK 5

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Patrons: The Duchess of Kent & Sir David Willcocks CBE, MC President: Bob Chilcott Musical Director: Lissa Gray

www.nccgb.com The NCCGB PO Box 116 Alresford Hants SO24 0YN T: 07894 021279 E: info@nccgb.com

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WELLS CATHEDRAL CHOIR “one of the most impressive of today’s British cathedral choirs” in “world-class form” (Gramophone Magazine)

London Concert Choir presents two major concerts in 2013: Sunday 3 March, Cadogan Hall, 5.00pm

Bach: St Matthew Passion (sung in German)

Music Director Mark Forkgen

with Nicholas Mulroy, Colin Campbell, Ruby Hughes, Christopher Lowrey, Nathan Vale, Robert Rice and Counterpoint period instrument ensemble

HAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHORISTERS

We are looking for keen and musical boys and girls from the age of 7 as choristers in Wells Cathedral Choir. All choristers receive scholarships for Wells Cathedral School, and additional bursaries are available.

CHORAL AND ORGAN SCHOLARS

Free housing in the beautiful mediaeval Vicars’ Close, with a generous scholarship, extra fees package, and funding for lessons. Opportunities for work at Wells Cathedral School may be available. Applications are welcome from experienced gap-year or graduate students.

For more information, please telephone 01749 674483 email musicoffice@wellscathedral.uk.net or visit www.wellscathedral.org.uk

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Wednesday 10 July, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm

The French Connection

Fauré: Requiem, Ravel: Daphnis and Chloé, Suite No.2 Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune Poulenc: Gloria with Claire Seaton, Duncan Rock and Southbank Sinfonia London Concert Choir celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. A lively and friendly choir with around 150 members, LCC regularly appears at all the major London concert venues as well as touring to European destinations.

If you are interested in joining us, or would like to find out more, visit:

www.london-concert-choir.org.uk

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New editions of classic choral works NEW Emanuele d’Astorga edited by Robert King

Stabat Mater

978-0-19-338815-4

£4.95

Composed during the early 1700s and tinged with melancholy, this work features ornate solos, duets, and trios interspersed with beautiful imitative moments for full chorus.

NEW Henry Purcell

edited by Robert King

Te Deum and Jubilate Deo in D Written for St Cecilia’s Day 1694, this was the first work of its kind to be scored for orchestra, becoming the model for settings

by Blow, Croft, and Handel.

978-0-19-338589-4

The Classic Choral Works series ♦ Fresh editions by the very best scholars in their field ♦ Clean and clear page layout ♦ Compositions spanning the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries ♦ Choral works with a wide range of scorings ♦ Informative prefaces included in most of the vocal scores ♦ Playable keyboard reductions for rehearsal purposes Astorga Stabat Mater Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine Fauré Requiem (1893 version) Handel Four Coronation Anthems Handel Messiah Haydn The Creation Haydn Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo (‘Little Organ Mass’) Haydn Missa in Tempore Belli (Mass in Time of War) Haydn Nelson Mass (Missa in Angustiis)

£4.95

Oxford music is available from all good music shops, or by phone +44 (0)1536 452630, or email music.orders.uk@oup.com, or order online.

Haydn Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese Hummel Mass in B flat Machaut Messe de Nostre Dame Monteverdi Vespers (1610) Mozart Mass in C minor Mozart Missa Brevis in D Mozart Requiem Purcell Te Deum and Jubilate Deo in D Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle Verdi Pater Noster Vivaldi Gloria

Instrumental scores and parts for all the accompanied works are available on hire. Order online, by phone +44 (0)1865 353323, or email music.hire.uk@oup.com

www.oup.com/uk/music

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VOICE TRIALS for boys aged 7 & 8 at any time

Substantial scholarships are awarded and choristers enjoy the superb and extensive facilities of St Edmund’s School.

The Master of Choristers, David Flood, is always pleased to meet and advise parents and their sons.

Chorister scholarships for day boys in London www.templechurch.com The Temple Church offers generous scholarships to boy choristers which are tenable at any school.

Choristers also receive individual tuition in singing, theory and other musical skills.

For further details please telephone

01227 865242

e-mail: davidf@canterbury-cathedral.org

For further information, please contact: Liz Clarke, 020 7427 5650 liz@templechurch.com

Canterbury Cathedral is a registered charity: X7369

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“…the Temple Church Choir is among the very best..” GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE 07/11/2012 11:37:55

CHOIR OF THE YEAR

Winning notes Clare Stevens reports back from this year’s Choir of the Year competition

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crolling down the list of previous winners of Choir of the Year (COTY) titles, the memories come flooding back: Farnham Youth Choir with red skirts, parasols and impeccable diction, doing the Ascot Gavotte; London Adventist Chorale fighting it out with its South London counterparts, utterly committed to the gospel spirit as well as the style of the powerful musical message; the creamyvoiced girls of Arts Educational School and the heart-stopping quality of Berkshire’s embryonic tenors and basses. Not to mention all those flamboyant barbershop choruses, upping their musical game year after year in an

attempt to be the first from their very specific genre to win the competition.

Originally the Sainsbury’s COTY Competition, then BBC COTY and now run by event management company Kallaway, supported only by a tranche of Arts Council England (ACE) funding and guaranteed broadcasts of the grand final on Radio 3 and televised on BBC Four, the biennial search for the UK’s best amateur choir is the biggest event of its kind. It is open to groups of all ages, with a membership of between eight and 100 singers, singing any style of music.

Over the years, the rules and categories have evolved to achieve the best possible

representation of the choral music scene in this country. The 2012 competition saw 138 choirs – totalling more than 5,000 singers – taking part in regional events in Buxton, Basingstoke, Milton Keynes, Belfast, Exeter, London and Warwick. For Kallaway’s Helen Price, who has managed the past three competitions, the best thing about COTY this time round has been the positive feedback from the choirs after this stage about how much they had learned from and enjoyed watching other choirs. ‘Many choirs enter with no expectation at all of winning, just to learn, have fun and be connected to the choral scene.’

From each audition session recordings

Success: Choir of the Year 2012 Les Sirènes

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TAS KYPRIANOU TAS KYPRIANOU

of several Choirs of the Day were whittled down to 16 participants in the category finals held at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, on 6 October. Four titles were awarded, plus two ‘wild cards’ through to the grand final on 28 October at the Royal Festival Hall, London, where all six choirs had an equal chance of winning.

Children’s COTY 2012 is Lindley Junior School from Huddersfield, a flagship school for singing within the Kirklees area which was the first school in the country to be awarded Sing Up Platinum status. Directed

by Alison North with deputy head Emma Binns accompanying and the headteacher page-turning and attending every rehearsal, the choir proved that it is possible to train young children from very ordinary backgrounds to sing repertoire appropriate to their ages sweetly and genuinely tunefully, with clear diction and an unforced sound that captivated the audience even in the difficult acoustic of the Festival Hall.

Having only three weeks between the two finals caused headaches for the Youth COTY, 65-strong Methodist College Senior Girls’ Choir, as it proved difficult to travel from Belfast in the half-term week at short notice. ‘Methody’, as it is known locally, is a co-ed school with accomplished SATB

Grand final judges Ruthie Henshall (left), Greg Beardsell and Mary King

choirs, but the girls have a long tradition of success in COTY, having been overall winners in 1998 and 2002. First to perform in London, they appeared to have another trophy in the bag, until Adult COTY Surrey Hills Chamber Choir followed them on to the stage and delivered a slick, entertaining and equally impressive programme. Jazz a cappella group the Oxford Gargoyles had seen off competition from a similar group, the Alleycats from St Andrew’s, to win the Open Category, and in London it rivalled guest artists the Swingle Singers for showbiz ‘pzazz’. But the prize for the most effective presentation in the final must surely go to wild card winners Ysgol Glanaethwy Senior Choir from Bangor, North Wales, who segued dramatically from Tippett to an arrangement of a traditional Welsh song.

They were all pipped at the post by the other wild card winners, Les Sirènes, who brought something utterly new to the competition: 22 mature female voices, many of which have been trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where the choir is based, carefully moulded by their young conductor Andrew Nunn to produce a blended choral sound. Answering the suggestion that as the girls are music students and graduates this is not an amateur group, he points out

that not all of them are first study singers and that training soloists to sing chorally is very difficult. Jury member Mary King agrees, applauding the result and praising Nunn and RCS for bucking the trend for conservatoires to discourage vocal students from joining choirs.

Looking ahead, Andrew Nunn says he and his singers can’t wait to start putting dates in their diaries for future performances as a result of their success. Already thinking about COTY 2014, Helen Price hopes to expand the audition programme so that it is even more of a national festival of singing, and to see more specialist groups such as gospel choirs, early music consorts or exponents of world or contemporary classical coming forward. But most of all, what she would like to find in COTY’s Christmas stocking is a major sponsor. ‘Funding is our overriding worry. It was fantastic that all four UK nations were represented this year, but it’s very sad that neither the Scottish nor the Welsh arts councils could contribute anything towards our programme. There’s no guarantee that we’ll get ACE funding again – we desperately need another sponsor CM so that COTY can continue.’ www.choiroftheyear.com CHORAL 2013 RHINEGOLD.CO.UK 9

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CHURCH CHOIRS

Impressive Winchester Cathedral

A choral upbringing 10 RHINEGOLD.CO.UK CHORAL 2013

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RICHARD MELICHAR

Changing attitudes, traditions and financial situations have all led to the decline of church choirs. However, with a focus on the wider benefits of a choral education, UK churches and cathedral schools are finding new ways to attract young singers, writes Harry White

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and barely 2:1 for the boys.’ This is not just an issue that affects large cathedral choirs. Just down the road from Guildford Cathedral stands Holy Trinity Church, home to one of the most flourishing traditional parish church choirs in southern England. ‘It’s true there has been a decline overall in church choirs,’ says director of music Martin Holford. ‘In the post-war period, I think it became a sina que non to have a church choir, very often with boy trebles. The attitude of parents has changed.

Twenty years ago, we could happily have all the boys singing at two services every Sunday.

These days, parents also want their children to partake in a range of activities – not just a church choir. Recruitment has had to become more imaginative as a result.’

Yet the benefits of choral singing for both children and adults are undisputed. ‘Musical excellence, discipline, focus, concentration, structure, spiritual nourishment, musical education, literacy, numeracy, social cohesion, professionalism, organisational skills – these are but some of the benefits,’ says Dienes-Williams. ‘Choristers quickly learn that high quality work, their best efforts and working with their teachers and fellow choristers all make for a very good sound,’ says Waszek of St Edward’s, Liverpool. ‘All these are also essential elements of their education, both in school and afterwards.’ Richard Latham, director of music at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, concurs, ‘The choir is not only a musical institution but also an educational one,’ he says. ‘The singers learn a vast amount of new repertoire in one year and many are not music students but study a great variety of subjects. Their sightreading abilities are given a good workout and their voices really grow, both in size and in confidence.’ Holford

Early learners: members of Guildford Cathedral boys’ choir

of Holy Trinity Guildford emphasises the unique benefits of such an experience. ‘Our youngest member is six; the oldest 84. Where else do you get that age range working together as a team?’

Despite several studies of church attendance indicating declines in congregations, some predicting by as much as 55% between 1980 and 2020, many musical directors insist that liturgical choral music-making is still a culturally relevant activity, inextricably linked to the spiritual experience of the community that encounters it. ‘I think traditional liturgical music is extremely healthy today, and has a huge relevance to the church,’ says Dienes-Williams.

‘It is available to all and it is ever present. This is its inherent value and beauty – it is both timeless and timely. Liturgical music should not be ‘preserved’ – it should be performed, heard and experienced by as many people as possible, in order to challenge, inspire and motivate both performer and listener alike.’ Richard Latham argues a similar case. ‘In a world of instantaneous gratifying media, it seems that more and more people are finding real solace and spiritual calm in cathedral-style worship. The weight of tradition and liturgy can sit really well. Some choirs are flourishing thanks to the tireless work of conductors, the Royal School of Church Music and school teachers, but also by celebrities such as Gareth Malone. He has shown just how a choir can build a real sense of community and bring people together from a group of completely unconnected individuals.’ Despite the diverse challenges posed to traditional sacred choral music by the 21st century, it seems one of the country’s most ancient, idiosyncratic musical traditions is not ready just yet to become CM consigned to the annals of history.

MARILYN TAYLOR

RICHARD MELICHAR

ritain’s sacred choral tradition is the fingerprint of its cultural identity; a truly unique feature that sets it apart from the rest of the world. Rooted in the monastic past of our cathedrals, the practice somehow survived the turmoil of Reformation, the grip of Puritanism that followed the civil war and severe periods of decline in the 18th century and the aftermath of world war two. Yet perhaps its greatest test has been reserved for the 21st century.

At the heart of this choral tradition is the cathedral choir. Yet recent media coverage has suggested that Britain’s choir stalls are emptying at an alarming rate, with studies in association with the Campaign for Traditional Cathedral Choirs consolidating a similar theme of general decline. The news of the closure of Ripon Cathedral’s Choir School is the most recent example of threats to the tradition. I ask Katherine Dienes-Williams, organist and master of the choristers at Guildford Cathedral, if recruitment is a major issue for cathedral choirs today. ‘Recruitment is something which needs to be multi-layered and worked at constantly if it is to succeed,’ says Dienes-Williams. ‘In this day and age, alongside the ever increasing demands of children’s education and activities, it is vital to both engage and capture the interest and enthusiasm of children and engage their parents who may know very little about what it is to be a chorister.’

Recruitment issues such as a lack of parental commitment, increased choice of children’s leisure activities and wariness towards boarding have all been cited as possible reasons for a decline in cathedral choir choristers. In a recent interview, the Rev Brian Rees of Winchester’s Choir School, Pilgrims, indicated however that recruitment was an issue felt particularly in the north of the country – implying financial reasons were at play. I put this to John Waszek, head of St Edward’s College, Choir School for Liverpool’s Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral. ‘For us, the main problem in the recruitment of boy choristers is finance,’ says Waszek. ‘Each boy chorister is aged between eight and 13 and, from the age of eight to 11, they attend an Independent School at which fees are paid. When entering Year 7 they join St Edward’s College, which is not fee paying. In comparison, our girl choristers are aged from 11 to 16 and, consequently, they have no fees to pay throughout the girls’ choristership term. We receive eight or nine applications for each place in the girls’ choir

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FEMALE CHORISTERS

Girls allowed With more and more cathedral choirs accepting both male and female choristers, the future sound of choral church music is changing. Fiona Clampin takes a look at the growing presence of females in this long-established, male-dominated music scene

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omeone will have to come up with a new term for cathedral choirs, because ‘gents’ just doesn’t cut it anymore. Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, Peterborough and Lincoln all have one or more female altos on their back row, so asking just the men to sing in rehearsal wouldn’t, strictly speaking, be correct.

It is not the only area of cathedral music where women are slowly swelling the ranks.

While there is still a small number of female directors of music, more and more women are filling the posts of assistant director or taking up organist appointments.

‘When I was doing my scholarship trials in Cambridge in the early 1990s, I think I was one of two girls applying,’ remembers Sarah Baldock, organist and master of the choristers at Chichester Cathedral. ‘All the rest were men, and I guess there would have been more than 20 of us applying for scholarships, maybe more. If you looked at the number of applicants for organ scholarships now, it would be more balanced.’

Lincoln appointed Claire Innes-Hopkins as assistant organist last year at around the same time it recruited Helen Vincent to the choir. The latter appointment caused a stir in

the right-wing press, but assistant director of music Charles Harrison says he and director of music Aric Prentice saw no good reason why a woman should not be a lay vicar.

‘We weren’t pushed into it by any sort of recruitment difficulties at the time, and far from fuelling any putative decline in the role of the countertenor, Lincoln is actually offering more opportunities to male altos than was formerly the case. We took the decision that we would be happy to accept applications from women in principle. We weren’t completely comfortable with the idea at first but when we analysed our thinking, the only

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Let’s hear is for the girls: Lichfield Cathedral Girl Choristers

reasons for not trying it were completely ones of tradition and it being new and different. On musical grounds, it seemed to make a lot of sense, and we thought there might well be lots of good female singers out there with the right quality of voice to blend with our top line. Our critics said we were irrevocably changing the nature of cathedral choirs, and in a sense we were, but why should it remain the same as it has for years?

We think it’s a change for the better.’

All those working in cathedral music who were interviewed for this article attribute the increasing appearance of female singers and

music staff to the growth of girls’ choirs in cathedrals. Since Salisbury took the plunge 21 years ago to have a top line of girls in addition to the boy trebles, other cathedrals in England have followed suit. Singing week

in, week out has shown girls that the life of a cathedral musician can be an attractive one, and one that is open to women.

‘What I found at Chichester was an incredibly supportive clergy team who

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FEMALE CHORISTERS

are very musical,’ says Baldock. ‘Being part of a cathedral community is very special and I think the choristers pick that up. When people ask me why there aren’t more women in cathedral music, I say because they’re not applying. I think if women apply, they have a very good chance of getting a job. More needs to be done to encourage people of both genders to apply though, because it’s a very challenging job and if you have a family it can become quite demanding.’

Lichfield is the latest cathedral to write its girls’ choir into the statutes. There has been a scholarship-based girls’ choir at the cathedral school for six years, but the girls didn’t have a regular commitment in the same way as the boys. They are now more fully integrated into the life of the cathedral, with 16 girls aged between ten and 15 singing every Monday evensong and one set of weekend services mid-way through each term.

‘To have established this routine now is wonderful because I think finally the girls know what their identity really is,’ explains director of music Cathy Lamb. ‘Their

confidence is much better because they are performing much more regularly. The commitment is better and they are learning how to behave in a particular setting. There are so many extra-musical benefits to this – almost more so than the music itself – and I think that’s what hopefully will lead them to have skills that are phenomenal for whatever they decide to do in life.’

Critics of girl choristers in cathedrals might take heart from Lichfield’s decision to limit the girls’ appearances to one a week and the handful of weekends a year. In some other English cathedrals, the girls’ choir is on an equal footing with the boys and that has led organisations such as the Campaign for the Traditional Cathedral Choir to sound alarm bells.

‘Just a few short years after girls were introduced into our cathedral choirs, the boy chorister is becoming an increasingly endangered species,’ warns Lynda Collins from the campaign. ‘Unless more is done to protect the all-male cathedral choir, we risk its demise and its relegation to history which

CALL FOR COMPOSITIONS Composers are invited to submit works of around three minutes long suitable for performance by children in schools and junior church choirs. There are set anthem texts to use, and the winning entries will be performed in July next year in Chichester as part of the Southern Cathedrals Festival.

For more information email liturgymusic@ chichestercathedral.org.uk

would be a tragic loss – historically, musically, culturally and spiritually. The loss of the boy chorister from our cathedrals would also have a detrimental impact on the number of adult male singers in church, cathedral and secular choirs – no boys equals no men.’

Take that argument to its logical conclusion and could we end up calling the back row ‘ladies’? It’s unlikely, but if the rise in girl choristers is anything to go by, women will be making their presence felt in cathedrals – to quote Helen Reddy’s famous song CM – ‘in numbers too big to ignore.’

Making changes Lichfield Cathedral

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NEW CHOIRS

Loud and proud: Inner Voices at the Royal Albert Hall during this year’s London Primary Prom

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Vocal creations With a core focus on inclusivity and diversity, two new choirs are setting out on a mission to get more and more young people singing, writes Andrew Green

L

STEPHEN DALZIEL

ike London buses, you wait for ages, and then two came along at once; Inner Voices and the London Youth Choir.

Both looking to stimulate excellence in choral singing among state school pupils in the capital. Both setting out to draw singers on a representative basis from a spread of locations.

In the case of Inner Voices, 12 London schools were each invited to provide four singers. The London Youth Choir asked music education hubs from across the 33 London boroughs to put forward ten singers to audition for places in the various LYC ensembles.

Inner Voices is the brainchild of Ed Watkins, now head of music at West London Free School, but formerly of Bishop Thomas Grant School in Streatham. There he brought in the choral conducting skills of Ralph Allwood, known not just for his tv appearances alongside Gareth Malone but for his longstanding work at Eton College and the range of choral courses that have become fixtures in the musical calendar.

‘The headmaster at BTG asked Ralph what he was going to do now that he was leaving Eton, which set me thinking,’ says Watkins.

‘One school could never afford to employ Ralph on a regular basis, but what if several came together in a cross-school project to create a choir? I decided I needed to find 12 schools with heads of music who were up for the idea.’

Over the course of a year, those schools were lined up – all from the state sector. ‘I’ve never wanted to work in a private or grammar school,’ says Watkins, a graduate of Keble College, Oxford. ‘Comprehensive education embraces the social spectrum. To make sure this was reflected in Inner Voices, we stipulate that of the four singers each school nominates, one should be in receipt of free school meals.’

Allwood needed no persuasion to take part.

‘I went to a state school myself and thought I’d spend my career working in a comprehensive.

But I was head-hunted at Cambridge – where I was a choral scholar at King’s – by an inde-

pendent school headmaster. From there the road led to Eton. When I decided to go freelance, one thought was that I’d love to work in state schools, and I really enjoy starting things from scratch and making them work. So Inner Voices has proved ideal.’

Both the cofounders of London Youth Choir, Suzi Digby and Rachel Staunton, have impressive CVs as youth choir conductors.

They met when Digby (of Voices Foundation fame) was adjudicating a BBC Choir of the Year contest in which Staunton was conducting. A friendship developed, which led to the cooking up of the London Youth Choir over lunch at Carluccio’s in Covent Garden. ‘We stayed there all afternoon, ordering more and more coffees!’ says Staunton.

For Digby, the creation of LYC is the culmination of a process which began at the start of her career, when a Churchill travelling fellowship allowed her to roam the world seeing how the best youth choirs were run, conducted and administered. Notwithstanding the success of the Voices Foundation, she had ‘always wanted to start something like LYC in London, but I knew I needed the right person to collaborate with. That person finally arrived in the shape of Rachel Staunton. There’s no one like her – she has an amazing interaction with young people.’

LYC’s aim is to build on the Sing Up campaign which has been promoting singing in primary schools. ‘One key factor in attracting young singers has been the use of social media,’ says Digby. ‘It has been enormously important, alongside mailing all London state schools three times. We had a terrific response – hundreds came to be auditioned. The great thing is that when you stand in front of the various choirs we run, they look like London, not least in terms of the ethnic mix.’

Inner Voices, too, is all about inclusivity by various definitions. ‘For example,’ says Ed Watkins, ‘we have one special needs child who has been statemented – he has a few behavioural issues. But he has the most beautiful treble voice; he sounds as if he was brought

up in a cathedral choir school. And so far he’s been absolutely no problem.’

Inner Voices works on the basis of recommendation, eschewing auditions. LYC defends its own auditions process by ‘trying to make them as positive an experience as possible even if a child doesn’t get through,’ says Staunton.

‘We make sure they have feedback, suggesting things they can work on – and encourage them to try again.’

In terms of repertoire, it is clear that both new setups are not going to be shy about exploring classical music – in the case of Inner Voices, that is the beginning and end of things.

‘The first thing we did was John Bennet’s madrigal Weep O Mine Eyes,’ says Allwood.

‘They loved it!

‘In September last year we did Tallis’s 40part motet outdoors at Southbank Centre. The kids were paired with experienced singers as a sort of lifebelt. It was just fantastic and attracted a great crowd.’

One of a kind: LYC conductor Rachel Staunton

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NEW CHOIRS

STEPHEN DALZIEL

‘New arrivals’: members of Inner Voices

Whether it is Mozart or Haydn, Howells or Britten, says Allwood, the response has always been one of enthusiasm from singers and audiences. ‘We just did Poulenc’s Timor et Tremor at the Albert Hall as part of the London Primary Prom, amid all the jazz and stuff that others were doing! But everyone loved it.

‘It’s amazing how fast the singers latch on to even complex stuff. And we base it all on the idea that they’ll sightread. If someone says they can’t, I just say, “Of course you can. You can ‘We’re working hard to make sure that no singer will be denied the chance to sing’ - Suzi Digby

see when the notes go up or down, when a note is blacked in and so is shorter than those that aren’t.” And gradually they get it.’

There is more genre variety in evidence as far as LYC ensembles’ repertoire is concerned explains Staunton: ‘We’re trying to include the kind of styles to which children of these backgrounds have had exposure. The main choir’s working on music from The Creation, plus a Zulu song and a piece by Peter Warlock.

The training choir’s learning arrangements of You Raise Me Up and Jerusalem, the girls’ choir, music from Messiah and Eva Cassidy’s True Colours, the boys’, Britten’s arrangement of The Salley Gardens plus We’re Walking In The Air.’ LYC has also appointed exWestminster Abbey organist Martin Neary to coordinate plans ensuring that commissions play a prominent part in the future.

Both LYC and Inner Voices are dependent on fundraising and both have duly drawn in benefactors to secure their launches, throwing up some heart-warming stories. ‘One of our donors happened to be in a London hospital, where he spotted all the different languages that had to be catered for,’ says Digby. ‘He got to thinking about the challenge of bringing all Londoners together and then happened to hear about what we’re doing and saw it as a way of transcending barriers. Out came the cheque book.’

‘It costs £500 a year to fund each child in the choir,’ says Watkins of Inner Voices. ‘Parents who can, pay £100, but quite a lot can’t afford

that. So some serious fundraising is in order, not least to make sure we can look into touring, including going abroad. I know from my own schooldays just how important a bonding exercise touring can be.’

‘We’ve been sorting car pools to get singers to rehearsals,’ Suzi Digby. ‘We’re working hard to make sure that no singer will be denied the chance to sing through lack of money.’

Eleven-year-old Max Cowie, an alto in the LYC boys choir, likes the fact that ‘the groups are quite small, which means the leader can focus on you more.’ Meg Griffiths, 16-year-old soprano in the main LYC choir, enjoys the idea of ‘working together to reach amazing standards. I’m looking forward to performing at high-profile venues and meeting amazing musicians, like John Rutter. I know I’ll never forget any part of the LYC experience.’

The new arrivals on the London scene clearly meet the approval of the umbrella organisation Music for Youth. Executive director Matt Griffiths points out that, after all, ‘singing is one of the country’s most popular group activities after sport. I had the privilege of attending a London Youth Choir rehearsal recently and the young people were clearly singing their hearts out and making quick progress.’

‘All this proves that singing energises young people,’ says Allwood. ‘They then perform betCM ter all-round at school.’ innervoices.co.uk londonyouthchoir.com CHORAL 2013 RHINEGOLD.CO.UK 19

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YOUTH CHOIRS

New directions With an impressive CV of job positions, it seems unlikely that Ben Parry would need any more strings to his bow. Yet, with the recent appointment as artistic director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, there seems to be no end to his enthusiasm for music making. Clare Stevens finds out more

I

The music man: NYCGB artistic director Ben Parry

t was quite a summer for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB). On the plus side, the organisation’s flagship senior choir garnered accolades that many an adult chorus or professional chamber choir would struggle to achieve for its performance of Beethoven Nine with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at the BBC Proms, including an extraordinary on-stage tribute from conductor Daniel Barenboim. But the concert had been prepared by Robert Isaacs, a former associate conductor of NYCGB, after its founder Mike Brewer was forced to stand down as artistic director in the spring, a year ahead of his planned retirement. Investigations continue into allegations of sexual assault against a young woman, dating from the 1970s when he was on the staff of Chetham’s School.

The process of recruiting Brewer’s successor was accelerated, and in August Ben Parry was appointed to the post. Currently director of the junior department of the Royal Academy of Music (JRAM) in London, Parry is a former choral scholar of King’s College Cambridge, cofounder of the Dunedin Consort, has both directed and sung with the Swingle Singers, and now directs Aldeburgh Voices in Suffolk and the professional London Voices. He is a very experienced composer and arranger of choral and film music and has a long track record in music education, having spent five years as director of music at St Paul’s School, Hammersmith and he still works regularly as a director of the Eton Choral Courses.

Perhaps surprisingly, prior to his appointment, Parry had never worked with NYCGB, although coincidentally the choir premiered his Olympics-related Flame as a short opener to Bob Chilcott’s cantata The Angry Planet at the BBC Proms in September. ‘I have of course come across countless

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former members of NYCGB in the course of my work as a singer and conductor,’ he says, ‘so I did know a lot about it.’ Directing the choir, however, was never a particular ambition, ‘I suppose it just didn’t occur to me that I might be in the frame.’

NYCGB’s chair of trustees Chris Higgins, who in his day job is vice-chancellor of Durham University, is in no doubt that they have made the right choice. ‘We did an international trawl and considered some very eminent conductors, but Ben absolutely stood out. You couldn’t imagine a better career profile for the job. He is still young but he has wisdom and maturity combined with energy and enthusiasm and a real knowledge of choral repertoire.

‘And of course it is really important that he is an educationist, because NYCGB is not just a choir; it is an education organisation, aiming to develop young people’s characters and leadership skills as well as their musicianship. Ben has a real commitment to that and to widening access to music.’

Higgins admits that this is a real priority for NYCGB at the moment, as it is for its orchestral counterpart. Despite the increasing numbers of bursaries that are available to assist with the cost of attending courses, and the best efforts of the choir’s marketing team to hold auditions in the widest possible range of venues around the UK, there is a perception that the choir is dominated by singers from English independent schools.

Chipping away at this will be a constant task for Parry, but one he is well equipped to undertake.

‘We’ve been carrying out a similar exercise at the Junior Academy over the past few years, led by my colleague Krystyna Budzynska, who has done an extraordinary job. The key is finding interested partners to help with getting children from all backgrounds through the doors, rather than going it alone, and it really is working.

‘Of course, NYCGB is already establishing its own links and creative partnerships, but there is lots more that we can do. I’m also keen to develop musicianship training, drawing on the pioneering work Robert Isaacs has done in this area at the Manhattan School of Music, and the choir’s existing leadership training programme.’

A challenging year lies ahead for Parry and for the choir, as he formally took up his appointment at the start of October, but will be continuing to spend four days a week at the JRAM until next summer. Auditions for NYCGB have been taking place through the autumn, but Parry has not been able to attend them all and he does not plan to direct the senior choir’s spring course, although he will conduct the Monteverdi Vespers at the

© MARK SAVAGE

Vocal excellence: NYCGB

Royal Albert Hall in April, and hopes to use the split choir structure of the work to involve as many of the younger singers from the boys’ and girls’ choirs, training and cambiata (male changing voices) choirs as well as the senior choir.

Higgins is keen to point out that having to speed up the process of appointing a new director has not in any way impeded the progress of NYCGB itself, which has been undergoing significant change over the past couple of years. ‘It needed a better governance structure; we now have that in place, with a very strong board of trustees, and have begun working with Ben on a strategic plan to develop a real organisational structure for the staff. Mike Brewer brought in lots of really talented young conductors and vocal trainers and we need to make sure we use their talents even more fully,’ he says.

‘One 30-year era is coming to a close and another era is beginning which will be very CM rewarding and exciting.’ www.nycgb.net

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LISTINGS

UK CHOIRS

A40 Choir t: 01753 886005 e: david.g.meacock@ btinternet.com w: www.a40music.com.

Contact: David Meacock, founder cond.

Requirements: None other than ability to read music. No of members: 40.

Aeolian Singers 16 Varney Close, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2LH t: 01442 259447 e: info@ aeoliansingers.org.uk w: www. aeoliansingers.org.uk. Contact: Stephen Jones, mus dir; Paul Davies, chair.

Requirements: Simple voice check with mus dir. No of members: Approx 75.

Altrincham Choral Society c/o Altrincham Methodist Church, Springfield Rd, Altrincham WA14 1HF e: information@altrincham-choral.co.uk w: www.altrincham-choral.co.uk.

Contact: Pat Arnold, sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 100.

Anton Bruckner Choir e: chrisdawe@antonbrucknerchoir.org (applications) w: www. antonbrucknerchoir.org. Requirements: New members are expected to be a high standard with excellent sightreading skills. Application by CV and/or audition.

Armonico Consort t: 01926 800109 e: admin@armonico. org.uk w: www.armonico.org.uk.

Contact: Christopher Monks, artistic & mus dir; Christine Smeaton, concert mgr; Peter Mitchell, assoc mus dir.

Requirements: Audition or by invitation.

No of members: 12-40, depending on works being performed.

Ashford Choral Society t: 01233 660559 e: virginiaaw@aol.com w: www.ashfordchoral.org.uk. Contact: Virginia Williams, hon sec; Mark Deller, cond. Requirements: Open to all. No of members: 130.

Athenaeum Singers 9 The Downlands, Warminster BA12 0BD t: 01985 212017 e: info@ athenaeumsingers.com w: www. athenaeumsingers.com. Contact: (Mrs) Paddy Yerburgh, sec. Requirements: Non-auditioning but experience of choral singing is desirable. No of members: 80.

The Bach Choir PO Box 61756, London SW1H 0UZ t: 020 7127 4677 e: genman@ thebachchoir.org.uk w: www. thebachchoir.org.uk. Contact: David Hill, mus dir; Christopher Lean, gen mgr. Long established choir with a succession of eminent mus dirs. Receives invitations to sing in prestigious venues and with the best pro orchs and soloists.

Basingstoke Choral Society Hazeley Ct, Hazeley Heath, Hook

RG27 8LY t: 01252 849966 e: mnsennett@aol.com w: www. basingstoke-choral.org.uk. Contact: Mervyn Sennett, committee and i/c publicity. Requirements: Audition after a few weeks’ practice. No of members: 170.

Bath Camerata Birch Tree Cottage, Nettlebridge, Oakhill BA3 5AA t: 01749 841086 e: pauline@bathcamerata.org.uk w: www. bathcamerata.org.uk. Contact: Nigel Perrin, dir; Pauline Perrin, sec.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 22-25.

Bath Minerva Choir 30 Fairfield Park Rd, Bath BA1 6JW t: 01225 444190 f: 01225 420588 e: secretary@bathminervachoir.co.uk w: www.bathminervachoir.co.uk. Contact: Joanna Wiesner, sec; Paul Feldwick, chair; Gavin Carr, mus dir. No of members: 150.

BBC Singers Rm 24, BBC Studios, Delaware Rd, London W9 2LG t: 020 7765 4370/2243 f: 020 7765 2762 e: stephen. ashley-king.01@bbc.co.uk w: www.bbc. co.uk/singers. Contact: Stephen AshleyKing, gen mgr; David Hill, chief cond; Bob Chilcott, principal guest cond; Michael Emery, sr prod; Ruth Potter, co-ord; Amanda Boyle, broadcast asst; Lottie Fenby, mktg asst; Hannah Sander, mus asst; Garth McArthur, learning mgr.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 24.

BBC Symphony Chorus BBC Studios, Delaware Rd, London W9 2LG t: 020 7765 4715 f: 020 7286 3251 e: bbcsc@bbc.co.uk w: www.bbc. co.uk/symphonychorus. Contact: Stephen Jackson, chorus dir; Alison Dancer, chorus admin. Requirements: Auditions are held throughout the year.

No of members: Large.

Birmingham Bach Choir t: 07973 229014 e: info@birmingham. bachchoir.com; boszko@blueyonder. co.uk w: www.birmingham.bachchoir. com. Contact: Hilary Boszko, mktg offr.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 75.

Bournemouth Bach Choir t: 01202 470059 w: www. bournemouthbachchoir.org. Contact: Carolyn Butterworth, sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 40.

Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir Tanglin, Firs Rd, Alderbury, Salisbury SP5 3BD t: 01722 710511 e: nigel. wyatt@dial.pipex.com w: www.bschoir. org.uk. Contact: David Gostick, mus dir; Nigel Wyatt, chair. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 30.

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus 7 Southbourne Coast Rd, Bournemouth BH6 4BE t: 01202

423429, also fax e: manager@bschorus. co.uk w: www.bschorus.co.uk. Contact: Carolyn Date, sec & mgr; Gavin Carr, chorus dir.

Bradford Festival Choral Society 22 Bankfield Dr, Bradford BN18 4AD t: 01274 820510 e: sing@ bradfordfestivalchoralsociety.org.uk w: http://bradfordfestivalchoralsociety.org. uk. Contact: Duncan Milwain, chair; Mark Clayton, sec; Thomas Leech, mus dir. No of members: 110.

Brighton Festival Chorus 12a Pavilion Buildings, Castle Sq, Brighton BN1 1EE t: 07010 706235 f: 01273 707505 e: info@bfc.org.uk w: www.bfc.org.uk. Contact: James Morgan, mus dir; Gill Kay, artistic mgr; Richard Pulham, chair.

Brighton Orpheus Choir t: 01273 699107 f: 01273 883100 e: info@brightonorpheus.org w: www. brightonorpheus.org. Contact: Annette Bell, chair; Richard Jayawant, sec.

Requirements: Age over 16; informal audition after joining. No of members: c.90.

Bristol Bach Choir 10 Roy King Gdns, Warmley, Bristol BS30 8BQ t: 0117 967 4394 e: secretary@bristolbach.org.uk w: www. bristolbach.org.uk. Contact: Lisa Lewis, sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 60.

Bristol Choral Society 9 Cornwallis Cres, Bristol BS8 4PL t: 0117 973 0696 e: davidandsarah@ ukonline.co.uk w: www.bristolchoral.co. uk. Contact: Adrian Partington, mus dir; David Burns, chair. Requirements: Friendly audition. No of members: Approx 170.

Bury Bach Choir Southgate Farm, Rushbrooke Lane, Bury St Edmunds IP33 2RR t: 01284 767517 e: marketing@burybachchoir.co.uk; chairman@burybachchoir.co.uk w: www.burybachchoir.co.uk. Contact: Louise Martin, chair; Philip Reed, cond.

Requirements: New members auditioned after approx 4 rehearsals. No of members: 120.

Cambridge Taverner Choir t: 01483 222991 e: cambridgetavernerchoir@hotmail.co.uk w: www.cambridgetavernerchoir.org.uk.

Contact: Diana Baumann, admin; Owen Rees, dir. Requirements: By invitation or audition. No of members: 25.

Camden Choir 117 Cholmley Gdns, London NW6 1UP t: 020 7794 6300 e: camden_choir@ yahoo.com w: www.camdenchoir.org.uk.

Requirements: Voice test, inc some sightreading. No of members: 50-60.

Canticum 34 Ingleway, London N12 0QN t: 020 8445 0322; 020 7681 1046 (tickets) e:

chairman@canticum.org.uk w: www. canticum.org.uk. Contact: Mark Forkgen, dir; Jan Trott, chair.

Cantorian Sirenian Singers Gwernto Bach, Bwlchgwyn, Wrexham LL11 5YR t: 07973 260180 e: sireniansec@hotmail.co.uk w: www. sireniansingers.org. Contact: Sheena Williams, sec, concert sec. Requirements: By invitation or audition. No of members: 50-55.

Capital Arts Children’s Choir Wyllyotts Centre, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 2HN t: 020 8449 2342, also fax; 07885 232414 e: capitalarts@ btconnect.com w: capitalarts.org.uk.

Contact: Kathleen Shanks, mus dir. No of members: 60.

Cappella Nova t: 0141 552 0634 f: 0141 552 4053 e: rebecca@cappella-nova.com w: www. cappella-nova.com. Contact: Alan Tavener, cond; Rebecca Tavener, creative dir. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 4-18 depending on rep.

The Cecilian Singers t: 0115 933 2896 e: lynne.holland@ btinternet.com w: www.ceciliansingers. co.uk. Contact: Jeremy Jackman, mus dir; Lynne Holland, sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 30.

Chantage 47 Westcote Rd, London SW16 6BN e: info@chantage.org w: www.chantage. org. Contact: James Davey, mus dir; Rachel Tonkin, choir mgr. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 40.

Cheltenham Bach Choir 3 Postlip Hall, Winchcombe, Glos GL54 5AQ t: 01242 604015 e: honsec@cheltenhambachchoir.org.uk w: www.cheltenhambachchoir.org.uk.

Contact: Stephen Jackson, cond; John Bristol, chair; Shirley Elliot hon sec Requirements: By audition No of members: 107.

The Chichester Singers c/o Gibbs Croft, Westlands Lane, Birdham, Chichester PO20 7HH t: 01243 512385 e: j.selwood@virgin.net w: www.chichestersingers.co.uk.

Contact: Jill Selwood, hon sec; Jonathan Willcocks, cond. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 140.

Choir of London 69 Sydney Rd, London W13 9EZ t: 07845 585143 e: info@choiroflondon. org w: www.choiroflondon.org; www. facebook.com/choiroflondon; www. twitter.com/choiroflondon. Contact: John Harte, gen mgr; Michael Stevens, artistic dir; Alice Howick, project mgr.

Requirements: By invitation. No of members: Variable.

Choir of Retrospect Ensemble c/o Dunbar & Co, 70 South Lambeth Rd, London SW8 1RL t: 01223 312400 CHORAL 2013 RHINEGOLD.CO.UK 25

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LISTINGS

e: info@retrospectensemble.com w: www.retrospectensemble.com. Contact: Matthew Halls, artistic dir; Jeremy Woods, gen mgr; Karen Morris, head of development; Yvonne Eddy, admin.

Choir of The King’s Consort The Old Rectory, Alpheton CO10 9BT t: 01284 826044 f: 01284 826041 e: info@tkcworld.org w: www.tkcworld. org. Contact: Robert King, artistic dir; Viola Scheffel, gen mgr. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 18-36.

Choros 6 Mill Lane, Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire OX25 5LH t: 01869 232618 e: info@choros.org w: www. choros.org. Contact: Janet Lince, mus dir.

Requirements: Audition. Members should be excellent sightsingers with good musicianship and ens skills. No of members: Approx 30.

City Chamber Choir e: rosemary_zoylinski@hotmail.com w: www.citychamber.org.uk. Contact: Rosemary Zoylinski, membership sec.

Requirements: By audition on application to the membership sec. No of members: 25-30.

City of Birmingham Choir 47 Lonsdale Rd, Walsall WS5 3HJ t: 01922 634278 w: www.citychoir.org.uk.

Contact: Adrian Lucas, cond; Susan Ward, gen sec.

City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus CBSO Centre, Berkley St, Birmingham B1 2LF t: 0121 616 6500 f: 0121 616 6518 e: mflower@cbso.co.uk w: www. cbso.co.uk/choruses. Contact: Simon Halsey, chorus dir; Andris Nelsons, mus dir; Elen Huws Elis, chorus mgr; Mike Flower, asst chorus mgr; Katie Gardner, chorus admin. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: 190.

The City of Glasgow Chorus t: 0141 332 2333 f: 0141 332 0660 e: taylorsifa@btconnect.com w: www. cityofglasgowchorus.org. Contact: Graham Taylor, chorus master.

Requirements: Audition.

City of London Choir Flat 2, 13 Nevern Sq, London SW5 9NW t: 020 8780 0958 e: mail@ cityoflondonchoir.org w: www. cityoflondonchoir.org. Contact: Rob Griffiths, sec; Jenny Robinson, gen mgr; Dan Mansfield, chair. Requirements: Audition then re-audition every 3 yrs. No of members: 120 members, approx 80 sing in a concert depending on venue size.

City of Oxford Choir 6 Reliance Way, Oxford OX4 2FU t: 01865 401725 e: chair@oxfordchoir.org w: www.oxfordchoir.org. Contact: Tony Brett, chair; Diana Rayner, sec; Duncan Apsden, mus dir; Billy Purefoy, voice coach. Requirements: Audition during

rehearsal. No of members: Approx 40-45.

Colchester Choral Society w: www.colchesterchoralsociety.co.uk.

Contact: Pauline Heselden, sec.

Requirements: Voice assessment. No of members: Approx 70.

Colla Voce Singers 57 Harp Rd, London W7 1JG t: 07876 236095 e: info@collavocesingers.com w: www.collavocesingers.com. Contact: Sebastian Budner, choir mgr; Aidan Coburn, mus dir. Requirements: By invitation; occasional auditions. No of members: 16-20.

The Collegiate Singers 32 Barleycroft Rd, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6JU t: 01707 335315 e: andrew. millinger@virgin.net. Contact: Andrew Millinger, mus dir. Requirements: By invitation following audition. No of members: Usually around 40 perf.

Collegium Musicum of London Flat 2, 186 St John St, London EC1V 4JZ t: 020 8946 9737 e: fchallands@gmail. com w: www.coll-mus-lon.org.uk.

Contact: Florence Challands, sec.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 25-30 per concert.

Commotio (of Oxford) Flat 3, 111 Ritherdon Rd, London SW17 8QH t: 07941 137934 e: info@ commotio.org w: www.commotio.org.

Contact: Matthew Berry, dir; Nick Wenban-Smith, treas. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 25-30.

Concordia Singers 22 The Close, Ardingly RH17 6TX t: 01444 891387 e: info@concordia.org.uk w: www.concordia.org.uk. Contact: Nicola Muller, publicity offr. No of members: 50+.

Conventus 9a The Green, Cheddington, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0RJ t: 01296 662219, also fax; 07885 400855 e: robrsvp@ btinternet.com w: www.patrickhawes. com. Contact: Rob Johnston, mgr; Patrick Hawes, dir. Requirements: By invitation only. No of members: 4-48, as required.

Crouch End Festival Chorus 46 Ulleswater Rd, London N14 7BS t: 0844 736 5220 e: general.manager@cefc. org.uk; engagements@cefc.org.uk; pr. marketing@cefc.org.uk w: www.cefc.org. uk. Contact: David Temple, cond; Pinky Millward, gen mgr; Johnny Mindlin, hiring enquiries; Duncan McAlpine, press. Requirements: Audition. No of members: Up to 145.

Croydon Philharmonic Choir 7 Stables End, Orpington BR6 8PD t: 01689 811133 e: barbarawalmsley@ ntlworld.com w: www.philharmonic.org. uk. Contact: David Gibson, mus dir.

Requirements: Informal audition. No of members: 90-100.

Daytime Voices Music for Everyone, 10 Goose Gate, Nottingham NG1 1FF t: 0115 958 9312 e: admin@music-for-everyone.org w: www.music-for-everyone.org. Contact: Rebecca Hooper, admin.

Derby Choral Union 24 Elmwood Dr, Breadsall, Derby DE21 4GB t: 01332 832527, also fax e: patricialunn@hotmail.com w: www.dcu. org.uk. Contact: David Cole, chair; Richard Dacey, mus dir, Patricia Lunn, sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 100.

Dulwich Choral Society 28 Half Moon Lane, London SE24 9HU e: chairman@ dulwichchoralsociety.org.uk w: www. dulwichchoralsociety.org.uk. Contact: Aidan Oliver, cond. Requirements: Voice test on joining. No of members: 95.

East London Chorus 102 South Park Rd, Ilford IG1 1SZ t: 020 8553 4404 f: 01707 884267 e: m.stewart@londonproarte.co.uk w: www.eastlondonchorus.org.uk. Contact: Murray Stewart, mus dir; Lorraine Dawes, admin.

East of England Singers Music for Everyone, 10 Goose Gate, Nottingham NG1 1FF t: 0115 958 9312 e: admin@music-for-everyone.org w: www.music-for-everyone.org. Contact: Rebecca Hooper, admin. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 40.

Edinburgh Festival Chorus The Hub, Castlehill EH1 2NE t: 0131 473 2027 f: 0131 473 2002 e: chorus@ eif.co.uk w: http://eif.co.uk/edinburghfestival-chorus. Contact: Christopher Bell, chorus master; Helen MacLeod, chorus mgr. Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 125.

The Elizabethan Singers of London 32 Leydon Cl, London SE16 5PF t: 07961 148806 e: anthonyjratcliffe@ hotmail.com; elizabethan@classicalartists.com; sueheathdowney@hotmail. com w: www.classical-artists.com/ elizabethan-singers. Contact: Susan Heath-Downey, dir; Anthony J Ratcliffe MBE, admin. No of members: 16-20.

English Arts Chorale The Warren, 3 Rectory Meadow, Rattlesden, Bury St Edmonds IP30 0RE t: 01449 737766 f: 01449 737372 e: info@englisharts.org w: www.englisharts. org. Contact: Leslie Olive, artistic dir; Ian Le Grice, mus assoc; Nyren ScottMalden, chair, exec committee; Hazel Timbrell, chair, members & friends assoc; Rosemary Scott, membership sec.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 70.

English Chamber Choir 8 Alma Sq, London NW8 9QD t: 020 7286 3944 f: 020 7289 9081 e: ecc.

protheroe@btinternet.com w: www. englishchamberchoir.com. Contact: Guy Protheroe, cond; Ann Manly, mgr.

English Concert Singers/English Concert Chorus 1 Bazehill Rd, Rottingdean, Brighton BN2 7DB t: 01273 300894 e: engconsing@fastnet.co.uk w: www. engconsing.co.uk. Contact: Roy Wales, dir; Christine Wales, admin.

English Singers 74 Glenthorne Ave, Shirley, London CR0 7EZ t: 020 8406 1430 f: 020 8406 1232 e: timhorton@blueyonder.co.uk.

Contact: Sally Burlington, mgr; Tim Horton, mus dir.

Ex Cathedra CBSO Centre, Berkley St, Birmingham B1 2LF t: 0121 616 3410 f: 0121 200 1522 e: info@excathedra.co.uk w: www. excathedra.co.uk. Contact: Jeffrey Skidmore, artistic dir; Peter Trethewey, gen mgr. Requirements: Audition requests by email, both pro and pro trained amateur singers. No of members: Chmbr choir 40, consort 10.

Exmoor Singers of London Chamber Choir 52 Church Lane, London SW19 3HQ t: 020 8543 3506; 07729 807122 e: info@ exmoorsingers.org w: www.exmoorsingers. org. Contact: James Jarvis, mus dir; Alison Benbow, admin. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: 26.

Exon Singers 6 Ashlake Rd, London SW16 2BB t: 020 8677 0882 e: secretary@exonsingers. org.uk w: www.exonsingers.org.uk.

Contact: Richard Wilberforce, mus dir; Graham Wood, sec. Requirements: By invitation. No of members: 30.

Finchley Chamber Choir Trinity Church, Nether St, London N12 7NN t: 020 8815 9422 e: singing@ fcchoir.co.uk w: www.fcchoir.co.uk.

Contact: Michael Dickinson, chair; Richard Cox, sec; Meryn Nance, treas; Celia Bangham, Making Music rep; Barbara Kilpatrick, publicity.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 30.

FineChants Bromley Parish Church, Church Rd, Bromley BR2 0EG t: 020 8466 8470; 07889 569226 e: garysieling2008@ hotmail.com w: www.garysieling.co.uk.

Contact: Gary Sieling, mus dir.

Fulham Camerata 72 Lilyville Rd, London SW6 5DW t: 020 7763 2761 e: admin@ fulhamcamerata.com w: www. fulhamcamerata.com. Contact: Christopher Wray, cond; Hermione Ruck Keene, choir mgr. Requirements: No audition for amateur group; audition for semi-pro ens. No of members: Amateur group 20; semi-pro group 12.

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LISTINGS

Godalming Choral Society t: 01483 420536 e: christine_mansell@ o2.co.uk w: www.godalmingchoral.org. uk. Contact: Christine Mansell, sec.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 130.

Goldsmiths Choral Union 125 Malvern Way, Croxley Green WD3 3QH t: 01923 778779 e: speacock@ semta.org.uk w: www.gcuchoir.org.uk.

Contact: Brian Wright, mus dir & cond; Sue Peacock OBE, sec.

Guildford Chamber Choir Broadlands, South Rd, St George’s Hill, Weybridge KT13 0NA t: 07734 701239 f: 01932 847194 e: gammack@aol.com w: www.guildfordchamberchoir.org.uk.

Contact: Helen Pritchard, chair; Steven Grahl, cond. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: 35.

Hackney Singers e: chair@hackneysingers.org.uk; membership@hackneysingers.org.uk w: www.hackneysingers.org.uk. Contact: Sheila Ebbutt, chair; Mark Shanahan, mus dir. Requirements: Open door, nonaudition policy; new members accepted when space allows (contact membership to enquire). No of members: 200+.

Halifax Choral Society t: 01422 374216 e: halchad1817@mac. com w: www.halifaxchoralsociety.co.uk.

Contact: John Pryce-Jones, mus dir; Ann Copeland, admin. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 120.

Hallé Choir t: 0161 907 9031 f: 0161 237 7028 e: enquiries@halle.co.uk w: www.halle.co. uk. Contact: Jo Pink, choral admin; Frances Cookes, choir dir.

Harlow Chorus 7 Great Hyde Hall, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9JA t: 01279 726806 e: admin@ harlowchorus.org.uk w: www. harlowchorus.org.uk. Contact: Val Brockbank, admin; Alexander Chaplin, mus dir. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 100.

Harpenden Choral Society t: 07860 823489 e: info@ harpendenchoralsociety.org w: www. harpendenchoralsociety.org. Contact: Anne Pringle Davies, chair.

Requirements: Open to all with informal audition. No of members: 80.

Harrogate Choral Society t: 01423 530764 e: secretary@ harrogatechoral.org.uk w: www. harrogatechoral.org.uk. Contact: Ruth Pridmore, sec; Andrew Padmore, mus dir; Brian Kay, pres & principal guest cond. Requirements: Initial audition followed by re-audition every 3-4 years for the whole choir. No of members: Approx 180.

Harrow Choral Society e: gwendel@deryckthornley.plus.com;

jill@mans.org.uk w: www.harrowchoral. org.uk. Contact: Jill Mans, membership sec; Gwen Thornley, sec. Requirements: Prospective members attend a few rehearsals followed by a short informal audition. No of members: 120.

Hertfordshire Chorus 28 Fulling Mill Lane, Welwyn AL6 9NS t: 07973 715756 f: 01438 716572 e: chairman@hertfordshirechorus.org.uk w: www.hertfordshirechorus.org.uk.

Contact: Nigel McNaught, chair; David Temple, mus dir. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 120.

Highbury Chamber Choir 9 Conewood St, London N5 1DJ t: 020 7354 1129 e: nicky@lrb.co.uk. Contact: Nicholas Spice, cond. Requirements: Simple audition. No of members: 20-25.

Highgate Choral Society 31 Lanchester Rd, London N6 4SX t: 020 8883 8740 f: 020 8883 5961 w: www.hcschoir.com. Contact: Ronald Corp, mus dir; Chris Ashley, chair; Carolyn Pascall, gen mgr.

Holst Singers w: www.holstsingers.com. Contact: Stephen Layton, mus dir; James Bowman, pres. Requirements: Auditions held every 2 years, members must reaudition then. No of members: Generally 32-40, sometimes more or less.

Huddersfield Choral Society PO Box B30, 35 Westgate, Huddersfield HD1 1PA e: jim.cowell@ huddersfieldchoral.com w: www. huddersfieldchoral.com. Contact: Jim Cowell, gen sec. Requirements: By audition; all voices retested regularly. No of members: 200+.

Hull Bach Choir 132 Westbourne Ave, Hull HU5 3HZ t: 01482 446319 e: secretary@ hullbachchoir.org.uk w: www. hullbachchoir.org.uk. Contact: Suzanne Brown, sec. Requirements: Audition; ability to sightread is desirable but not essential. No of members: Approx 60.

Hull Choral Union 36 Tranby Lane, Anlaby, E Yorks HU10 7DS t: 01482 654567 e: generalsecretary@hullchoralunion.org w: www.hullchoralunion.org. Contact: Gaynel Munn; publicity sec; Sam Gardner, cond. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: 70+.

The Joyful Company of Singers 70 Thornbury Rd, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 4LN t: 0208 847 6295 e: yvettejmiller@gmail.com w: www.jcos. co.uk. Contact: Peter Broadbent, cond; Bruce O’Brien, chair.

Keighley Vocal Union e: mike_warner@btinternet.com w: www.keighleyvocalunion.co.uk. Contact: Shirley Warner, sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 65.

Kentwood Show Choir 8 Mellow Ground, Haydon Wick, Swindon SN25 1QJ t: 01793 725863 e: info@kentwoodshowchoir.co.uk w: www. kentwoodshowchoir.co.uk. Contact: Sheila Harrod, founder & mus dir.

Requirements: By application or invitation, then informal audition and interview No of members: 35.

Keswick Hall Choir 35 Grove Walk, Norwich NR1 2QG t: 01603 618904 e: info@keswickhallchoir. org.uk w: www.keswickhallchoir.org.uk.

Contact: John Aplin, mus dir.

Requirements: Audition with the cond.

No of members: 45.

King’s Lynn Festival Chorus Wayside, 38 Watlington Rd, Runcton Holme, King’s Lynn PE38 0EJ t: 01553 810116 e: secretary@klfc.org.uk w: www. klfc.org.uk. Contact: Mandy Claydon, sec.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 120.

Kingston Choral Society 37 Overdale Ave, New Malden KT3 3UE t: 020 8949 4961 e: denis_down@yahoo. co.uk; info@kingstonchoralsociety.org.uk w: www.kingstonchoralsociety.co.uk.

Contact: Denis Down, chair.

King William Choir and Orchestra t: 07740 354817 e: voicebox@hotmail. co.uk. Contact: Hilary Campbell, dir.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 24, depending on project.

Lancaster Singers High Barn, Rabbit Lane, Gressingham, Lancaster LA2 8LP t: 01524 61553, also fax e: high.barn@btinternet.com w: www. lancastersingers.org. Contact: Denis McCaldin, cond; Stella Birchall, sec.

Leeds Baroque Choir The Gables, 6 Grosvenor Park, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3QD t: 0113 268 0600 e: jlj@btinternet.com w: www. leedsbaroque.org.uk. Contact: Clive McClelland, chorus master; Jillian Johnson, admin; Peter Holman, mus dir.

Requirements: By audition and/or invitation. No of members: 20-25 depending on rep.

Leeds Festival Chorus 29 Broomfield, Leeds LS16 6AE t: 0113 261 9731; 0113 278 9490 (concerts organiser) e: secretary@ leedsfestivalchorus.co.uk; concerts@ leedsfestivalchorus.co.uk. Contact: Mac Burnell, admin sec; Simon Wright, cond & artistic adviser; Sue Winbolt-Lewis, concerts organiser.

Leeds Philharmonic Chorus 36 Lidgett Lane, Leeds LS8 1PQ t: 0113 274 2511 e: enquiries@leedsphil.org w: www.leedsphil.org. Contact: David Cook, chair.

Leicester Philharmonic Choir Rosedale, West St, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8DT t: 0116 260 2024 e: gensec@

thephil.org.uk w: www.thephil.org.uk.

Contact: William Barker, gen sec; Karl Jenkins, patron. No of members: 120.

Liverpool Welsh Choral 78 Ringwood, Prenton CH43 2LZ t: 0151 652 6374 e: mavis@lwc.freeserve. co.uk w: www.lwcu.co.uk. Contact: Mavis Owens, ticket sales mgr; Leighton Jones, concerts mgr. Requirements: Audition No of members: 130.

London Cantata Choir e: admin@londoncantata.com w: www. londoncantata.com. Contact: Paul Baxter, admin. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 25 for each event; membership of around 50.

The London Chorus t: 020 8858 9311 f: 020 8853 5936 e: info@londonchorus.org.uk w: www. londonchorus.org.uk. Contact: Ronald Corp, mus dir; Hannah Williams, admin; Prue Corp, concert mgr; HRH Duke of Gloucester, patron.

London Concert Choir 7 Ildersly Grove, Dulwich, London SE21 8EU t: 07780 607837 f: 0780 135 5729 e: info@london-concert-choir.org.uk w: www.london-concert-choir.org.uk.

Contact: Mark Forkgen, cond; Bill Cook, chair; Jennifer Greenway, membership.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 150.

London Gallery Quire 61 Malmesbury Rd, London E18 2NL t: 020 8505 4381 e: stella.hardy@bt.com; francis.roads@gmail.com w: www.lgq.org. uk. Contact: Stella Hardy, admin; Francis Roads, mus dir. Requirements: None prescribed. No of members: Approx 40.

London Jewish Male Choir 11 Brampton Ct, London NW4 4AJ t: 07956 246659 e: info@ljmc.org.uk w: www.ljmc.org.uk. Contact: Dan Jacobs.

London Oriana Choir c/o 264 Camberwell New Rd, London SE5 0RP t: 020 7738 7926 e: contacts@ londonoriana.com w: www.londonoriana. com. Contact: David Drummond, mus dir; Fiona Tong, Simon Funnell, chairs.

London Orpheus Choir 2 Tenby Mansions, Nottingham St, London W1U 5ER t: 020 7486 1929 e: info@londonorpheus.plus.com w: www. londonorpheus.plus.com. Contact: Colin Evans, chair. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 55.

London Philharmonic Choir Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH t: 020 7193 1378 e: kdarnell@lpc.org.uk w: www.lpc.org. uk. Contact: Neville Creed, artistic dir; Mary Moore, chair; Kevin Darnell, choir mgr. Requirements: Membership by audition. No of members: 200.

London Symphony Chorus Level 6, Frobisher Cres, Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS t: 020 7382 CHORAL 2013 RHINEGOLD.CO.UK 29

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Eastman’s Hook and Hastings American romantic organ, and Craighead-Saunders Central German baroque organ

• Unique depth and variety in organ education • Magnificent instruments in many styles • Abundant performance opportunities, master classes, distinguished guest performers and scholars • Diploma in Sacred Music

David Higgs, Chair, Organ and Historical Keyboards Department William Porter, Professor of Organ, Harpsichord, and Improvisation VISITING PROFESSORS 2012–13 Edoardo Bellotti, Hochschule für Kunst und Musik, Bremen Michel Bouvard, Paris Conservatoire, St. Sernin, Toulouse

esm.rochester.edu/apply

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LISTINGS

2518 e: andra.east@lso.co.uk w: www.lsc. org.uk. Contact: Andra East, chorus admin; Simon Halsey, chorus dir; Lydia Frankenburg, chair. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 190.

London Welsh Chorale / Corâl Cymry Llundain 157-163 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8UE e: info@londonwelshchorale.org.uk w: www.londonwelshchorale.org.uk.

Contact: Susan Craig, sec. No of members: Approx 100.

Maida Vale Singers 7b Lanhill Rd, London W9 2BP t: 020 7266 1358, also fax e: maidavalesingers@ cdtenor.freeserve.co.uk w: www. maidavalesingers.co.uk. Contact: Christopher Dee, dir & chorus master.

Malcolm Sargent Festival Choir 34 North End Rd, London W14 0SH t: 020 7602 6818/7352 6805 f: 020 7602 8162 e: malcolm.sargent@virgin.net w: www.malcolmsargent.org. Contact: Sylvia Darley OBE, chair. Requirements: Voice test. No of members: 120.

The Manchester Chorale 161 Radcliffe New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 7RG t: 0161 767 9226 e: concerts@manchesterchorale.org.uk w: www.manchesterchorale.org.uk. Contact: Ged Cavanagh, concert sec; Jill Henderson-Wild, mus dir.

Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus e: itsec@mlgc.org.uk; chair@mlgc.org.uk; membership@mlgc.org.uk; events@mlgc. org.uk w: http://mlgc.org.uk. Contact: Jeff Borradaile, mus dir; Mike Lake, chair/ membership sec; Steve Green, events mgr.

Requirements: No auditions. No of members: 70.

Midland Festival Chorus PO Box 9351, Leicester LE41 9GA t: 0116 267 1680 e: info@ midlandfestivalchorus.org w: www. midfestchorus.org. Contact: Malcolm Goldring, mus dir; Donovan Cattell, chair; Dirk Tinbergen, singers’ sec. No of members: Approx 230.

The Monteverdi Choir Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra Ltd, Level 9, 25 Cabot Sq, London E14 4QA t: 020 7719 0120 f: 020 7719 0099 e: info@ monteverdi.org.uk w: www.monteverdi. co.uk. Contact: Sir John Eliot Gardiner, artistic dir; Julian Clarkson, choir mgr; Sophie Palent, tour mgr. Requirements: By invitation. No of members: Approx 30.

Newcastle Bach Choir International Centre for Music Studies, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU t: 0191 236 5147, also fax e: johna.smith@dsl.pipex.com w: www.newcastlebachchoir.org.uk.

Contact: Eric Cross, artistic dir; John Smith, chair; Susan Coulson, sec.

Requirements: By audition. No of members: 80-100.

New London Chamber Choir t: 01273 470068 e: info@nlcc.org.uk w: www.nlcc.org.uk. Contact: Liz Webb, promotions mgr. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: Varies, average 32.

New London Singers c/o 27B Popesgrove Mansions, Heath Rd, Twickenham TW1 4AX t: 07980 803243 e: chairman@newlondonsingers. org.uk w: www.newlondonsingers.org. uk. Contact: John Kennedy, chair; Justin Althaus, sec; Ivor Setterfield, cond.

Northern Sinfonia Chorus The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Sq, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead NE8 2JR t: 0191 443 4666; 0191 443 4661 (ticket office) f: 0191 443 4551 e: fiona.gill@ thesagegateshead.org w: www. thesagegateshead.org/sinfonia/sinfonia_ chorus. Contact: Fiona Gill, chorus admin; Alan Fearon, chorus master; Simon Halsey, principal cond, choral programme.

North Yorkshire Chorus t: 01609 772944 e: hazel.sumsion@ virgin.net w: www.northyorkshirechorus. org.uk. Contact: Hazel Sumison, chair; Greg Smith, cond & chorus dir; Ann Hutchins, sec. No of members: 80-100.

Nottingham Festival Chorus Music for Everyone, 10 Goose Gate, Nottingham NG1 1FF t: 0115 958 9312 e: admin@music-for-everyone.org w: www.music-for-everyone.org. Contact: Rebecca Hooper, admin No of members: 200+.

Nottingham Harmonic Choir 60 Meadow Rd, Nottingham NG9 1JT t: 0115 922 8433 e: GenSec@ NottinghamHarmonic.org w: www. nottinghamharmonic.org. Contact: John Whittle, gen sec. Requirements: Entry audition and re-audition every 5 yrs. No of members: 180-200.

Occam Singers t: 01403 734918 e: chair@occamsingers. co.uk w: www.occamsingers.co.uk. Contact: Stephanie Comley, chair. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 40.

The Oxbridge Singers t: 07984 193518 e: alexander@oxbridgesingers.com w: www.oxbridge-singers. com. Contact: Alexander Campkin, principal cond. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: 12.

Oxford Bach Choir 23 Clevelands, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 2EQ t: 01235 532759 e: admin@ oxfordbachchoir.org. Contact: Nicholas Cleobury, cond; Timothy ByramWigfield, assoc cond; Alan Lane, gen sec; Diana Smith, chair; Martin Peters, artistic admin. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: 150.

Oxford Harmonic Society 1 Poplars Cl, Preston Bissett MK18 4LR t: 01280 848275 e: robert_secret@

fastmail.fm w: www.oxfordharmonicsoc.org. uk. Contact: Robert Secret, cond; Anthony Walters, concert mgr. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 130.

Oxford Pro Musica Singers 15 Parker’s Hill, Tetsworth OX9 7AQ t: 01844 281427 e: michael.smedley23@ btinternet.com w: www.opms.org.uk.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 30-40.

Philharmonia Chorus 65 Dulwich Village, London SE21 7BJ t: 020 8788 6305; 07961 313 941 (auditions) e: chairman@ philharmoniachorus.co.uk; membership@philharmoniachorus.co.uk (auditions) w: www.philharmoniachorus. co.uk. Contact: Richard Harding, chair; Stefan Bevier, chorus master.

Requirements: Entry by audition. No of members: Over 100.

Philharmonia Voices 2 Mulberry Cl, London SE22 0HZ t: 020 7921 3900 f: 020 7921 3950 e: aidan.oliver@westminster-abbey.org w: www.philharmonia.co.uk. Contact: Aidan Oliver, dir.

Plaxtol Scholars PO Box 308, Sevenoaks TN15 0ZW t: 01732 811036 e: mcarboni@ carbonimedia.com w: www. plaxtolscholars.org. Contact: Marius Carboni, dir. No of members: 25.

The Portsmouth Chorus t: 01243 373946 (sec); 01329 310876 (recruiting) e: secretary@ theportsmouthchorus.com w: www. theportsmouthchorus.com. Contact: Sue Underwood, sec; Ian Gore, recruiting.

Requirements: Audition after approx 3 rehearsals. No of members: 75-80.

Portsmouth Festival Choir c/o 34 Balmoral Ct, 45 Clarence Parade, Southsea PO5 2ES t: 023 9273 7470 w: www.portsmouthfestivalchoir.org.uk.

Contact: Diana Wren, sec; David Truslove, mus dir.

Reading Bach Choir 24 New Rd, Reading RG1 5JD t: 0118 987 1452 e: sowmor@waitrose.co.uk w: www.readingbachchoir.org.uk. Contact: Barbara Morris, sec; Matthew Hamilton, mus dir. Requirements: Audition by mus dir. No of members: 40-50.

Reading Festival Chorus t: 0118 978 5829 e: fionagreenhalf@ btinternet.com w: www. readingfestivalchorus.org.uk. Contact: Fiona Greenhalf, chair. Requirements: Short audition. No of members: 60+.

The Renaissance Singers Cathedral Office, Cathedral Cl, Blackburn BB1 5AA t: 01254 503082 f: 01254 689666 e: linda.bruce@ blackburn.anglican.org w: www. blackburn.anglican.org. Contact: Linda Bruce, mus admin.

Royal Choral Society Studio 9, 92 Lots Rd, London SW10 0QD t: 020 7376 3718 f: 020 7376 3719 e: virginia@royalchoralsociety.co. uk w: www.royalchoralsociety.co.uk.

Contact: Virginia Edwyn-Jones, admin.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Philharmonic Hall, Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BP t: 0151 210 2895 f: 0151 210 2902 e: rlpc@liverpoolphil.com w: www. liverpoolphil.com. Contact: Ian Tracey, choir master; Rosemary Barton, admin.

RSVP VOICES 9a The Green, Cheddington, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0RJ t: 01296 662219; 07885 400855 (mob) e: rob@rsvpvoices. com w: www.rsvpvoices.com. Contact: Rob Johnston, dir. Requirements: Audition or by recommendation. No of members: 1-200, as required.

Salford Choral Society t: 01706 670251 f: membership@ salfordchoral.org.uk w: www. salfordchoral.org.uk. Contact: Diane Dunning, membership sec. Requirements: Very informal audition; enthusiastic and committed new members always welcome.

No of members: 120.

The Scottish Chamber Choir 3 Mortonhall Park Loan, Edinburgh EH17 8SN t: 0131 664 4386 e: info@ scottishchamberchoir.org.uk w: www. scottishchamberchoir.org.uk. Contact: Marjory Lobban, treas. Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 30.

Scottish Chamber Chorus 4 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB t: 0131 478 8335 f: 0131 557 6933 e: tammo.schuelke@sco.org.uk w: www. sco.org.uk. Contact: Tammo Schuelke, chorus admin; Gregory Batsleer, chorus master. Requirements: New members audition; members re-auditioned every 2 yrs. No of members: Approx 50.

Sense of Sound Singers The Bluecoat School, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX t: 0151 702 7799 e: jenny@senseofsound.net w: www. senseofsound.org. Contact: Jennifer John, choir mgr. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 45.

Sheffield Bach Society t: 0114 268 3812 e: boxoffice@ sheffieldbachchoir.org.uk w: www. sheffieldbachchoir.org.uk. Contact: Jenny Cowling, treas; Tim Down, sec; Liz Arnesen, membership sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 60.

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus Shechem, Old Brampton, Chesterfield S42 7JQ t: 01246 568004 w: www. sheffieldphil.org. Contact: Stephen Knight, gen sec; Julie Smethurst, chair; Darius Battiwalla, mus dir.

Singscape 2 Church St Cottages, Upton OX11 9JB t: 01235 850488 e: singscape@aol.com CHORAL 2013 RHINEGOLD.CO.UK 31

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G N I S TO SAVE CHILDREN’S LIVES this christmas

Join choirs across the country to raise money for the world’s poorest children. You could hold a collection at your Christmas concert, run a raffle or even sing in the streets!

WIN PRIZES l

Win a £100 voucher for choral sheet music by Faber Music Ltd.*

l

Everyone taking part will receive a voucher for £5 off one choral sheet music download at fabermusicstore.com**

Visit savethechildren.org.uk/sing for fundraising tips and suggested song lists.

Email us at supportercare@savethechildren.org.uk or call 020 7012 6400. *

Prize draw runs from 1 October 2012–31 January 2013. For full terms and conditions visit savethechildren.org.uk/competitions. This is an exempt lottery under the Gambling Act 2005. No entry fee necessary.

**

Terms and conditions apply, visit savethechildren.org.uk/sing for more details.

Supported by:

Registered charity England & Wales (213890) Scotland (SC039570)

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LISTINGS

w: www.singscape.org.uk. Contact: Sarah Tenant-Flowers, cond. Requirements: By invitation. No of members: 20-30.

The Sixteen Raine House, Raine St, London E1W 3RJ t: 020 7488 2629 f: 020 7488 4905 e: info@thesixteen.org.uk w: www.thesixteen. com. Contact: Harry Christophers, cond, mus dir; Marie-Sophie Willis, gen mgr; Suzanne Doyle, admin.

Somerset Chamber Choir t: 01392 432931 e: email@ somersetchamberchoir.org.uk w: www. somersetchamberchoir.org.uk. Contact: Lin Winston, chair; Luisa De Gregorio, recruitment. Requirements: Experienced singers may apply, attend a rehearsal day and audition at the end of the day. No of members: 60-70.

South Bucks Choral Society Waldens, 6 Westanley Ave, Amersham HP7 9AZ t: 01494 433013 e: southbuckschoral@btinternet.com w: www.biddlecombe.demon.co.uk/sbcs/.

Contact: Gwenda McInnes, hon sec; Iain Ledingham, mus dir. Requirements: Audition. Must have reasonable knowledge of music and sightreading. No of members: 120.

South West Festival Chorus (incorporating Frome Festival Chorus) 30 Fairfield Park Rd, Bath BA1 6JW t: 01225 444190 f: 01225 420588 e: jmw. concerts@btinternet.com. Contact: Jason Thornton, mus dir; Gavin Carr, chorus master, Joanna Wiesner, admin.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital Choral Society 15 Fountain Pl, Barbourne WR1 3HW t: 01905 27134 e: secretary@bartschoir. com w: www.bartschoir.com. Contact: Peter Sheeran, sec; Ivor Setterfield, cond.

St Michael’s Singers St Michael’s Vestry, Cornhill, London EC3V 9DS t: 01737 244604, also fax; 07799 641699 e: jonathanrennert@ hotmail.com. Contact: Jonathan Rennert, mus dir. Requirements: Audition.

Sussex Chorus 14 Woodhall Cl, Cuckfield, West Sussex RH17 5HJ t: 01444 454091 e: secretary@ sussexchorus.org w: www.sussexchorus.org.

Contact: Rosemary Pardey, hon sec; Neil Jenkins, cond. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: 130+.

The Syred Consort t: 07759 599042 e: info@ thesyredconsort.co.uk w: www. thesyredconsort.co.uk. Contact: Ben Palmer, mus dir; Rosemary Galton, choir mgr. Requirements: By invitation or recommendation. Occasional auditions held, contact choir mgr with CV. No of members: Approx 8-25 depending on project.

Tallis Chamber Choir Cavick House, Wymondham NR18 9PJ t: 07769 705366; 01953 608028 e: tallischamberchoir@hotmail.co.uk.

Contact: Philip Simms, dir; Judith Lawrence, admin. Requirements: By invitation. No of members: 16-40.

Tamesis Chamber Choir 17 Collis St, Reading RG2 0AE t: 0118 931 4279 e: lourap@gmail.com w: www. tamesischamberchoir.co.uk. Contact: Louise Rapple, mus dir. Requirements: Annual audition for all choir members and potential choir members. No of members: Approx 25.

Tenebrae 84 Weymouth Ave, London W5 4SB t: 07973 886232 e: info@tenebrae-choir. com w: www.tenebrae-choir.com. Contact: Nigel Short, admin. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 20.

Thames Philharmonic Choir 18 Kingswood Ave, Hampton TW12 3AU t: 020 8979 4355 e: secretary@ thamesphilchoir.org.uk w: www. thamesphilchoir.org.uk. Contact: John Bate, artistic dir; Sylvia Walker, sec.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: Approx 100.

Three Spires Singers 4 Compton Terrace, Truro TR1 1HL t: 01872 227331 e: priscilla.reeve@ googlemail.com w: www. threespiressingers.org.uk. Contact: Priscilla Reeve, chair. Requirements: Audition and annual subscription. No of members: Approx 100.

Trianon Music Group 24 Haughley Dr, Bixley Farm, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich IP4 5QU t: 01473 320337 e: simon.i.fisher@btinternet. com w: www.tmg.org.uk. Contact: Simon Fisher, chair; Susie Mawson, vice chair; Christopher Green OBE, artistic dir.

University of Warwick Chamber Choir Music Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL t: 024 7652 3799 f: 024 7652 8136 e: music.centre@ warwick.ac.uk w: www.uwcc.co.uk.

Contact: Lucy Griffiths, asst dir of mus.

Requirements: By audition only. No of members: 30-50.

University of Warwick Chorus Music Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL t: 024 7652 3799 f: 024 7652 8136 e: music.centre@ warwick.ac.uk w: www.warwick.ac.uk/ musiccentre. Contact: Paul McGrath, Lucy Griffiths, cond. Requirements: Non-auditioned, open to all ages and abilities. No of members: Approx 200.

Valentine Singers c/o J Kenning, 93 Third Ave, Dagenham RM10 9BE t: 020 8517 5230 e: info@ valentinesingers.org w: www.

valentinesingers.org. Contact: Christine Gwynn, mus dir; Tim Smith, accomp; John Kenning, chair, exec committee.

Requirements: None, although an informal audition may be arranged when necessary. No of members: 60+.

Vasari Singers PO Box 46778, London SW17 9YL t: 07712 386465 e: secretary@ vasarisingers.org w: www.vasarisingers. org. Contact: Jeremy Backhouse, cond; Julia Smith, sec. Requirements: Audition.

No of members: Approx 35 singers per concert.

Vox dicentis 14 Roselands Ct, Chester Rd, Lavister, Wrexham LL12 0DD t: 01244 571987 f: 01244 571857 e: m.needham@ btinternet.com. Contact: Marian Needham, admin. Requirements: Audition or by invitation. No of members: Approx 16.

Wakefield Festival Chorus Lacy Villa, Moorlands Rd, Dewsbury WF13 2LF t: 01924 468032; 01924 476721 e: Kennethknsng@aol.com w: www.wdco.org. Contact: KG Keeping, chair; M Hampshire, hon sec.

Requirements: No audition; ability to sightread is desirable but not essential.

No of members: Approx 45.

Whitehall Choir c/o British Expertise, 10 Grosvenor Gdns, London SW1W 0DH t: 020 7824 1933 f: 020 7824 1929 e: info@ whitehallchoir.org.uk w: www. whitehallchoir.org.uk. Contact: Graham Hand, chair; Ben Nicholls, sec.

Requirements: Simple audition. No of members: 70.

Whitstable Choral Society t: 01227 282163 f: 01227 282177 e: secretary@whitstablechoral.org.uk w: www. whitstablechoral.org.uk. Contact: Rosemary Simmonds, hon sec. Requirements: Voice test. No of members: 130.

Wimbledon Choral Society 50-51 High St, London SW19 5AX t: 020 8605 2266 e: marketing@ wimbledon-choral.org.uk w: www. wimbledon-choral.org.uk. Contact: Tilly Richardson, publicity offr; Neil Ferris, mus dir; Deborah Raymond, sec, Neil Dennis, chair. No of members: 150.

Wimborne Choral Society 10a Merley Lane, Wimborne BH21 1RX t: 01202 884207 e: wimbornechoralsociety@hotmail.co.uk w: www.wimbornechoralsociety.org.uk.

Contact: Tony Britnell, Making Music rep, webmaster. Requirements: No audition; occasionally waiting list for sop and alt. No of members: Approx 100.

Worcester Festival Choral Society 47 Jay Park Cres, Kidderminster DY10 4JP t: 01562 820409 e: lbellerby@tiscali. co.uk w: www.

worcesterfestivalchoralsociety.org.uk.

Contact: Dr Peter Nardone, mus dir; Lesley Bellerby, sec. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 160.

Writtle Singers 22 Jacksons Lane, Billericay CM11 1AH t: 01277 651970 e: info@writtlesingers. org w: www.writtlesingers.org. Contact: Frances Quintrell. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 25-30.

Yorkshire Bach Choir 11 Bootham Terrace, York YO30 7DH t: 01904 652799 e: peter.seymour22@york. ac.uk w: www.yorkshirebachchoir.org.uk.

Contact: Peter Seymour, cond.

Requirements: Audition. No of members: 45.

Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir 94 Manygates Lane, Sandal, Wakefield WF2 7DW t: 01924 255835 e: manygates1@blueyonder.co.uk w: www. yorksphilchoir.co.uk. Contact: Andrew Padmore, cond & artistic dir; Graham Heley, minutes and membership sec; Anne Oldham, choir admin. Requirements: Audition. No of members: 94.

The Zemel Choir 120 Oakleigh Rd North, London N20 9EZ t: 07770 345679 e: marketing@ zemelchoir.org w: www.zemelchoir.org.

Contact: Anthony Cohen, mktg mgr. No of members: 52.

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HANDEL MESSIAH 24 NOVEMBER 2012 LINCOLN CATHEDRAL CHOIR LINCOLNSHIRE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Lincoln Cathedral is proud to present an amazing pre-Christmas performance of Messiah.

Tickets £18, £13 and £10 student concessions from Lincoln Minster Shop www.LincolnCathedral.com/Shop

EN

www.thelincolnhotel.com 01522 520348

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THE 2013 FERRIER COMPETITION

FINAL AUDITIONS

23 & 26 April at Wigmore Hall PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS

2 - 6 April £10,000 1st Prize

Natalya Romaniw – 2012 Winner

£5,000

2nd Prize

£4,000

Ferrier Loveday Song Prize

£3,000

Musicians Benevolent Fund Accompanist’s Prize

Open to singers aged 28 or under who are resident or studying full time in the UK or Eire. Full details and application forms avaialble online. Closing date for applications 1st February 2013.

www.ferrierawards.org.uk

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Y institute of sacred music GRADUATE STUDY IN VOICE: ART SONG AND ORATORIO Special Emphasis On Early Music and Chamber Ensemble The Yale Institute of Sacred Music and School of Music offer to 8 singers selected to form an octet: 路

2 year program leading to Master of Music degree

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Full tuition scholarships for two years plus stipends awarded to all singers

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Numerous opportunities for solo work with the Yale Schola Cantorum and elsewhere

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Additional degree options after 2 years

FACULTY James Taylor, Program Advisor, Oratorio and Voice Masaaki Suzuki, Director, Yale Schola Cantorum Judith Malafronte, Performance Practice Ted Taylor, Art Song Coaching

Yale University / Institute of Sacred Music / 409 Prospect Street / New Haven, CT 06511 tel 203.432.9753

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www.yale.edu/ism

08/11/2012 10:56:54

Choral Highlights of the Year NEW RELEASE

Purcell / Humfrey

Anthems and Other Choral Works The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge and the St John’s Sinfonia, conducted by Andrew Nethsingha, perform choral works

by Pelham Humfrey and Henry Purcell, including O sing unto the Lord. They are joined by four soloists: Iestyn Davies, James Gilchrist, Neal Davies, and David Stout.

CHAN 0790

CLAUSEN: All that hath life and breath, Mass for Double Choir

CHAN 10726 X

CHAN 241-43

CHSA 5105

CHAN 241-42

SUPER AUDIO CD IN SURROUND SOUND

TAVENER: We Shall See Him As He Is, Eis Thanaton, Theophany

DYSON: The Canterbury Pilgrims

ELGAR: The Light of Life

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: A Cotswold Romance, Death of Tintagiles

HANDEL: Alceste

www.chandos.net www.theclassicalshop.net (24-bit downloads, lossless, MP3)

036_CHORAL_2013-OBC.indd 3 Untitled-9 1 Choral Highlights 2012 - Choral Supplement.indd 1

CHSA 5100

CHAN 0786

CHAN 0788

CHAN 10728 X

SUPER AUDIO CD IN SURROUND SOUND

MOZART: Missa KV 317 ‘Coronation’ , Missa brevis KV 192

NORTHERN LIGHTS: Choral Works by Ola Gjeilo

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