Leamington Spa Bach Choir
The Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir is a medium-sized choir based in the town of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England.
About
It was founded in the 1930s by the musician Stanley Vann and continues to perform to the present day. It currently meets at Lillington Primary School in the north of Leamington. It gives regular concerts throughout the year and perform a wide and varied repertoire.
The choir has around 80 members and rehearses weekly on a Wednesday evening during school term time. The choir's musical director and conductor is Nigel Stark , and its accompanist is Colin Druce. On the day of a concert (normally a Saturday) a dress rehearsal is held in the afternoon, followed by the concert in the evening.
Concerts
The 2008–2009 season saw performances of various works, including:
- Duruflé's Quatre Motets and Requiem
- Morten Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium
- A selection of Christmas carols from around Europe
- Bach's St Matthew Passion
- Stainer's Crucifixion
- Various English choral classics at the choir's summer 2009 concert.
The choir performs with various orchestras and soloists. In 2008 it performed with Sir John Tomlinson at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington in a concert to benefit the Mayor of Leamington's chosen charity for the year.[1]
In the 2009–2010 concert season the program included:
- Verdi's Requiem (co-production with Portsmouth Choral Union - performances at Portsmouth and Leamington Spa)
- Christmas Concert - 'Carols Old and New'
- Last Night of the Proms with City of Birmingham Brass
- Constant Lambert - Rio Grande
- Choral works by Delius
- Contemporary International Choral Classics - featuring works by Bob Chilcott, Morten Lauridsen and excerpts from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.
The 2010–2011 concert season the program will include:
- Haydn's The Seasons
- Christmas Concert - 'Christmas with the Bach Choir'
- Chilcott Workshop
- Bach Mass in B Minor
- Chichester Psalms & Fauré Requiem
In addition to its rehearsals and concerts the choir undertakes a range of other activities, including working with other choirs and performing outside of the local area. In the past Christmas music has been performed at Hatton Country World and Burton Dassett, and the choir has also performed on Coventry and Warwickshire Radio. A number of social events are held each year, for example a summer garden party, book, cd and cake sales, skittles and a promises auction.
References
- ↑ Tomlinson is a cousin of the then-mayor.
External links
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