ONE of the region's top choirs are due to launch their next series of concerts with a special autumn show, featuring one of the UK's leading composers.
Chester Bach Singers will stage 'Autumn Inspirations', the first of their 2023/24 concert series on Saturday, October 21 at St Werburgh's Church at 3pm.
Conducted by Musical Director Martin Bussey, the choir will perform Requiem by Duruflé plus works by Rebecca Dale, Cecilia McDowall, Michael Higgins, and Lily Boulanger. Composer Cecilia McDowall will join the choir at the event to talk about her work which includes a piece - 'Crucifixus', which was commissioned by professional choir Sonoro and which formed part of workshop staged by Sonoro for Chester Bach Singers last year.
One of the UK's leading composers of sacred and secular choral music, Cecilia's works have been commissioned and performed by such organisations as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Chorus, City of London Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, St Paul’s Cathedral, leading choirs, including the BBC Singers, The Sixteen, Oxford and Cambridge choirs, Kansas City Chorale and at festivals worldwide.
Speaking about the concert, Martin Bussey said: "We are very excited that Cecilia McDowall, once of the most significant and widely performed female composers of sacred and secular music in the UK today will be joining us at St Werburgh's to talk about her work. We are delighted to have the opportunity to perform her work at this special Autumn concert which launches our 2023/24 season."
The new concert series includes a Christmas concert on December 16, a workshop and informal concert featuring works by Poulenc, and a performance of Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontious' at Chester Cathedral with Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, Cantiones choir and soloists Kathryn Rudge, Joshua Ellicott and James Platt on March 2. The choir will also stage a performance of Handel's 'Messiah' on 20th April and special concert featuring music of the 1950s which tales place on June 8.
Full details of 'Autumn Inspirations' can be found at: chesterbachsingers.org.uk/.
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