Will Hay

Category: Choral Conducting

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Neston Ecumenical Singers Events: 2009-2010

    St. Michael's, ShotwickThe Neston Ecumenical Singers will be helping the congregation of St. Michael’s, Shotwick celebrate Visit event on Facebooktheir 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

  • Fauré Requiem, Songs of Praise and Rutter Mass of the Children

    Forthcoming choral events this month include:
    French Evening Poster

    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 Songs of Praise

    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 Easter Concert 2009

    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.

  • Seasons Greetings – Christmas Piano Podcast

    Seasons greetings to all my students and podcast listeners. The Christmas episode of the piano gallery podcast takes a seasonal dip into the archives featuring:

    Nikita – Jingle Bells
    Lucy – Silent Night

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    both recordings are from the 2006 Christmas Concert at Chester Cathedral and as a variation from solo piano fayre, my school choir; St. Clare’s, sing Follow That Star.