Will Hay

Category: Choral Conducting

  • On Song for Christmas

    Songsmiths Christmas LogoMy first performance directing the Chester Songsmiths took place in Hoole this weekend at the Lights Switch On. It was most enjoyable and the ladies were in good voice. It has been as much a learning curve for me to pick up and work with their established style and repertoire as for the ladies to learn the new songs I have introduced over the past 9 weeks. Working without a score when you are used to having the notes in front of you can be a challenge but it does enable you to get ‘out of the copy’ and really ‘into the music’.

    I’m really looking forward to the next few gigs we have lined up this season performing the festive a cappella set. Whilst singing on the street in Hoole didn’t offer the chance to have the piano there to bash out a few chords, we decided that, though we could have a piano for the next gig, actually there’s no need as it sounds great without accompaniment and that is the way we have rehearsed for the past few weeks. It’s quite liberating (and can be scary) for me as a conductor, stepping away from the piano, removing that support and just relying on gesture for direction!

  • Get set for Christmas

    Ellie jingle stickThe half-term break offers a chance to relax and reflect on the exciting weeks ahead. Many of my students are preparing for their first performance platform event which takes place in just over two weeks. This gives all my students an opportunity to perform their chosen piece in a relaxed and friendly, informal environment.

    Whilst, I no longer sing regularly with the cathedral choir myself, directing two local community choirs in Chester is a tremendous creative choral opportunity.

    Chester Songsmiths are preparing to sing for the switch-on of the Christmas lights in Hoole as well as a Christmas Fair event at Chester Racecourse next month.

    Caldy Valley Voices are preparing an evening of festive music and poetry which will take place at Caldy Valley Church, Chester on Friday 11th December starting at 7.30pm. The full programme is yet to be confirmed but will include audience participation in some well known carols besides a variety of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs.

    Places are still available on their “Gothic Singing Workshop” which takes place in just TWO days time. Saturday 31st October starting at 3pm at Caldy Valley Church, Chester. Tickets £8/£2 u18 available here.

  • NESingers – A new direction

    NESingers – Musical Director’s Vision Statement, September 2012

    This season we are heading in a new direction following on from the successful Singing Day in May. The new branding “NESingers” opens the door to anyone who wants to join us, whether to sing with our broader, more accessible musical repertoire or to listen at any of the events where we will be performing.

    In the Christmas programme, we will maintain our seasonal tradition with carol concerts featuring favourite carols mixed with new compositions with personal and local connections. This year, we will be including a setting of Silent Night by Jamie. W. Hall who sang with us as a soloist in 2004 and is now a member of the BBC Singers. Jamie has recently had a carol published by Novello in their latest anthology of Christmas music.

    photo by AboutMyAreaNeston

    Repertoire for our Spring concert will feature folksong settings by Rutter as well as an arrangement of “The Ashgrove” completed a few years ago by myself. This has already been performed as far afield as Perth, Western Australia. These items will by combined with lighter popular music and some audience participation.

    Looking further ahead, we will continue our popular theme into the next season. Hopefully we can revisit some repertoire the singers have done in the past with renewed vision as well as learning new works to further expand upon our choral skills and musical enjoyment.

    WILL HAY

  • May: Month of Messiah

    Famous choral music coming up every Saturday in May to which you can listen or participate in.

    5th May: Sing Along Messiah – Chester Cathedral
    270 years after the final notes were added to the score at Chester Cathedral. The friends of the cathedral have organised a sing along Messiah day which will coincide with the annual plant sale.
    Directed by Philip Rushforth. Organ by Benjamin Chewter. Rehearsal 2pm, Sing through 5:30pm £10 / person

    12th May: NES Singing Day
    St. Michael’s, Little Neston from 10am-3pm. Bring along a sandwich lunch. The choir will be hosting a singing day where we will be exploring a variety of music as well as socialising and looking at ways we can develop the choir. (£5 / person)

    19th May: Sing Along Messiah – Neston Parish Church
    Come and sing the Messiah at Neston Parish Church on Saturday 19th May at 2pm. Conductor: Will Hay, Organ: Graham Eccles, Tenor: Chris Sennet, Trumpet: Mark Powell.

    26th May: Chester Cathedral Choir – Jubilee Concert
    ‘A Diamond Jubilee Concert’ – Music to include: Zadok the priest, I was glad, My heart is inditing; Crown Imperial, and Blest pair of Sirens. Tickets: £12.50/7.50

  • Events Newsletter – Autumn 2011

    I used to produce a paper newsletter featuring the dates for forthcoming piano exams and concerts along with other important information however this has now been superseded by the e-newsletter facility on the blog to which all of my students should be subscribed . It also gives me the opportunity to draw your attention to other professional activities in which I am currently engaged. I can heartily recommend the forthcoming Fauré Requiem performed in the Quire at Chester Cathedral by the cathedral choir. As a member of the choir, this is one of the highlights of the year, singing the requiem in the correct liturgical context and is a great chance to hear a delightful  performance of a well known choral treasure! (see the video clip below)
    I will post more precise details of exam times as soon as they are available. In your lessons this half term, I will be introducing some Christmas repertoire as I am planning that the recital this term might have a decidedly christmassy theme as well as audience participation and multimedia participation from the Chester Music Society Youth Choir! More information about the concert will be posted a little nearer the time…

    Below are some important dates for your diary:
    30th October – 1830: Fauré Requiem – Chester Cathedral Choir, Chester Cathedral
    2nd November – 1700: ABRSM Theory Exam – Bishop’s High School
    6th November – 1900: NES Songs of Praise, Parkgate URC
     1st December – Autumn Leaves Compositions Due
    2nd December – 1800: St. Oswald’s PTA Christmas Fair, Mollington
    3rd December – 1100: Christmas Charity Recital, All Saint’s Church, Hoole
    10th December – ABRSM Exams at Stanley Palace
    10th December – 1930: CMSYC and Preludes Christmas Concert
    13th December – Last lessons for the term at St. Oswald’s, Mollington
    14th December – Last lessons for the term at Chester Catholic High
    15th December – LCM exams at Stanley Palace
    16th December – 1930: NES Christmas Concert, St. Winifride’s, Neston
    17th December – 1930: NES Christmas Concert, Parkgate URC, Neston
    21st December – End of Piano Teaching Term
    24th December – 1500: Nine Lessons and Carols – Chester Cathedral Choir

    This video clip from a couple of years ago shows a movement of the Requiem being performed in the Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert. The Requiem in it’s entirety will be performed in a more intimate setting in the quire of Chester Cathedral on 30th October at 1830. Admission free!