Choir news May 2008
Bearstead | Goudhurst | Rochester | 25th Anniversary | Egerton  | Scherzi

Spring Review

9th of February at Bearstead

What a pleasure it was to give Sing Joyfully's third outing at Holy Cross Church with their splendid adult and children's choirs and a capacity  audience to boot.
The programme also included discrete items by the church choirs and Kent Chamber Choir.  All in all it was an excellent event.  We shall want to return to Holy Cross not least because it was a real pleasure to work with Christine Tate, Music Director at the church and fine musician and organiser.  Elaine, Christine's daughter and our 2007 Kath Topping Award winner, gave a superb account of the soprano solos in Sing Joyfully and Tu Virginum and Alleluja from Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate.
A most enjoyable day was suitably concluded chez the Sandfords who once again generously hosted the post-concert party.
In support of Holy Cross Missionary Links the event raised some £600 from surplus ticket income.

1st of March at Goudhurst

The singing was also of a high standard at St Mary's Church, but here the comparison with Bearsted ends. Unlike our 2006 Goudhurst Advent concert Goudhurst the audience was embarrassingly small (but immensely appreciative) with all but about five being KCC's loyal Friends and supporters.Items in the first half were the same as at Bearsted and included Purcell's substantial verse anthem O sing unto the Lord with Geoffrey's expert organ accompaniment. Geoffrey's second half solo performance of Howells's lovely Psalm Prelude was particularly well received as were the choir's renderings of Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music sensitively accompanied by Roger, and Rutter's Five Traditional Song arrangements.The poor turnout from locals meant that we were only able to donate a paltry sum to Hawkhurst Cottage Hospital. We drowned our sorrows and toasted our musical achievements at Marion and Nigel's later. Many thanks to them for the party

26th of April at Rochester

As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations we were guests of Gravesham Choral Society opening their Vaughan Williams tribute concert with our third performance of his Serenade to Music the beautiful Norman nave of Rochester Cathedral. With full orchestra as intended the real beauty and subtlety of the work shines out in a way not possible with piano. Scored for large instrumental forces the choir had to ignore pianos and pianissimos in order to project in the reverberent acoustic of the Cathedral which notoriously favours instruments over voices. But the effort was rewarded with many highly complimentary comments from those in the sell-out audience.After this item choir members were able to relax (except those also in Gravesham Choral Society) and enjoy the rest of the programme which comprised the English Folk Song Suite, The Lark Ascending and the mighty Sea Symphony.

Still to come

I was delighted by both choirs' excellent contributions to a memorable evening of magical music at Rochester. However, Kent Chamber Choir's season is yet to climax with our

25th anniversary concert. Handels "Israel in Egypt" Saturday June 7th 7.30pm

After 25 years of music making we richly deserve to sing to a full house, and we must get one to cover our costs. So I'm relying on each and every one of our members and supporters to bust a gut to sell tickets, starting NOW!

Thanks in anticipation.

Choral favourites at Egerton Music Festival, St. James Church, Sunday 13th July at 7.30pm

The programme for this concert comprises popular excerpts from sacred music by Bach, Brahms, Fauré, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Parry and Rossini. We will be joined by baritone soloist Benedict Nelson who is sponsored by The Countess of Munster Musical Trust.This will be the the third time we have given the final concert at this lively and imaginative festival. 

As it's always sold out, I strongly advise our Friends to book their complimentary tickets early via Marilyn Scott on 01622 737916 or at ken.scott73@tiscali.co.uk Other tickets can be purchased by phoning the Festival Box Office on 01233 840 630 or Ashford Tourist Information Centre on 01233 629 165.

Scherzi

One day I'll relax a bit, and try to become a good composer                                                                                                Benjamin Britten

I have always found it difficult to study. I have learnt almost entirely what I have learnt by trying it out on the dog.                    Ralph Vaughan Williams

Alan Vincent

01622 813 223

alan.vincent@talktalk.net