Will Hay

Category: Choral Conducting

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the dates for forthcoming piano exams and concerts along with other important information however this has now been superseded by the e-newsletter facility on the blog to which all of my students should be subscribed .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!

22/10/2011
NES – Conducting the 31st season
The Neston Ecumenical Singers commence their 31st season on Monday (5th September). The best thing about being their Musical Director is getting to choose the music and this season I am particularly looking forward to the fun and the challenge of Will Todd’s Mass in Blue! We plan to perform this next Easter in Neston along with John Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary. Other highlights of the season which I am looking forward to are a piece composed by my uncle (David Hay) and a carol composed by a colleague, Bryan Dadson.

Planned performances so far will be as follows:
- 6th November 2011 – Songs of Praise – Parkgate & Neston URC, Neston
- 16th December 2011 – Christmas Carols – St Winifrede’s RC Church, Neston
- 17th December 2011 – Christmas Carols – Parkgate & Neston URC, Neston
- 24th March 2012 – Easter Concert – Neston Parish Church, Neston
03/09/2011
Snowflakes (SATB Christmas Carol with piano accompaniment) by Graeme Hopson

Having worked with this carol for 12 weeks, I have grown to really like it as have members of my choir, the Neston Ecumenical Singers.

The words are by the American, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The composition came about late in 2008 as a result of an annual competition organised by The Longfellow Chorus promoting the poetry of their founder. Graeme Hopson, the composer of this setting was a finalist in the competition with this work.

The score is available direct from the composer or from SibeliusMusic.com

The snowfall motif in the piano accompaniment delicately flutters throughout the snowflakes’ journey described in the lyrics until the ‘troubled sky reveals the grief it feels’. The harmony takes an anguished turn at this point as the heart rate of the choir members increases whilst the parts get a little more challenging to pitch! Effervescent tranquillity returns along with the carefree snowflake motif as the third verse draws to a close with whispered revelations to wood and field.

13/01/2010
Neston Ecumenical Singers Events: 2009-2010

The Neston Ecumenical Singers will be helping the congregation of St. Michael’s, Shotwick celebrate their new sound system and hymnbooks this Friday (2nd October) with a ‘Hymns of Praise’ service featuring the congregation’s favourite hymns along with two popular anthems, Bruckner’s Locus Iste and Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine accompanied on the organ by Chester Cathedral’s organ scholar, Simon Walker.

Below is the latest list of events planned for the singers this year:

2nd October 2009 7:30pm ~ Hymns of Praise at Shotwick
12th November 2009 6-9pm ~ Carols at Gordale Open Evening
14th November 2009 10am ~ Autumn Coffee Morning & Fayre at Neston Town Hall
11th December 2009 7:30pm ~ Christmas Carols at St. Winifredes
18th December 2009 7:30pm ~ Christmas Carols at Parkgate URC
19th December 2009 11am ~ Carols at Neston Farmer’s Market
30th January 2010 7:30pm ~ Choir Annual Dinner
20th March 2010 7:30pm ~ Easter Concert

30/09/2009
Fauré Requiem, Songs of Praise and Rutter Mass of the Children

Forthcoming choral events this month include:

An evening of French Favourites with Chester Cathedral Choir – Saturday 4th April 1930. Tickets are priced at £10 (children £5) and are available from the cathedral box office on 01244 500959 or on the door. Baritone solos in the Fauré Requiem will be sung by myself.

Neston Sings Songs of Praise – Sunday 5th April 1830 at Parkgate United Reformed Church. Join the Neston Ecumenical Singers in a DIY version of Songs of Praise singing some of Britain’s favourite hymns. Entry is free. The programme will also feature some favourite anthems including Bruckner – Locus Iste, Elgar – Ave Verum and Purcell – Rejoice in the Lord.

Neston Ecumenical Singers Easter Season Concert with Chester Music Society Youth Choir featuring the first Neston performance of Mass of the Children by John Rutter on Saturday 25th April 1930 at Neston Parish Church. Soloists in the mass include Becky Hay– Soprano and James Goddard – Bass. I will be conducting the concert along with Helena Thomas – Conductor of the Chester Music Society Youth Choir. The concert will also feature Graham Eccles – International Concert organist and conclude with Vivaldi’s Gloria.

24/03/2009