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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
Britten – War Requiem

Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the start of World War Two, the University of Manchester Chorus and Symphony Orchestra will be performing this momentous work at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Sunday 3rd May, 2009 at 7:30pm.

The performance will feature renowned soloists including Amanda Roocroft, Alan Clayton and Roderick Williams as well as choristers from Manchester and Chester Cathedrals. Having sung with the university chorus as a student a number of years ago I can guarantee that this will be a performance not to be missed.

11/03/2009
Blue Autumn ¦ Podcast Episode 6

This week: Daniel, Winnie and Jacob perform in my first video enhanced podcast which looks at Eddie Harvey’s Blue Autumn from the Grade 1 ABRSM Jazz Piano Syllabus.

In conversation we look at the challenges the piece poses along with sources of inspiration for the solo section and possible embellishments for the recapitulation of the head section.

[powerpress]

07/03/2009
Charity Piano Concert – 15th March 2009

This term’s piano concert will take place in just over two weeks time. As mentioned already in the newsletter, the concerts this year will be supporting the Kampala Music School in Uganda with the aim of providing a piano lesson bursary.

Our piano concert this term will feature the seven movements of Bach’s Fifth French Suite played by myself with performances from my students in between movements. Technology permitting, the concert will be streamed live below on Sunday 15th March, 2009 at 13:15 GMT!

The date has been chosen to align with the music school’s annual anniversary concert.

Last year, the concert featured singers from numerous choirs in Kamapala performing a popular programme of choral ‘gems’, including Feel the Spirit, an arrangement of well-known Spirituals by John Rutter, Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure and David Fanshawe’s setting of the Lord’s Prayer from African Sanctus.

A suggested donation of £3 per audience member will be requested upon entry to the concert with proceeds providing a piano bursary for a student at the music school.

28/02/2009
Piano Points Leaderboard – February Half Term
Half way through the first term of running piano points,
Total points leaders on February 19th are as follows:
1. Sophia from St. Werburgh’s, Alice from Tattenhall Park, Rebecca and Huw from CCHS are all on 20 points
2. Katherine from Upton Heath and Lucie from CCHS are both on 18 points.
3. Alison from Upton Heath and Emily from Tattenall Park are both on 17 points.
Average points leaders (all on 4 points) are Mollie from St. Oswald’s, Sophia and Bella from St. Werburgh’s and Alice from Tattenhall Park.

42% of the 62 students are on 14 or more points which is half of the target number of points for the term.
19/02/2009