By Lewis Cohen WILTSHIRE, UK — Devizes teacher and musician Chris Totney is celebrating after winning a national competition to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Mr Totney, assistant director of music at Dauntsey’s School in West Lavington, recently took over St John’s choir in Devizes. His composition The Mystery of Christ, […]
Westerly Chorus leader Kent to retire after half century
WESTERLY, R.I. — George Kent, charismatic organist and conductor, is stepping down as head of the Chorus of Westerly, the 190-voice choir he founded more than a half-century ago. Kent, a musical institution in the Westerly area, will retire at the end of the next season, in June 2012. A Westerly native raised in neighboring […]
Carols for Choirs is 50 Years Old!
Celebrating 50 Years of ‘Carols for Choirs’ OUP are proud to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Carols for Choirs 1. Edited by Reginald Jacques and David Willcocks and published in 1961, Carols for Choirs 1 soon became an integral part of every Christmas concert and service across and one of the […]
Rock classics a hit with the choirs for everyone
YORKSHIRE, UK — it may be a far cry from singing in church, but the rock choir is on the rise. Nicky Solloway takes a look a the growing phenomenon sweeping the country. Joining a choir used to mean singing madrigals in a draughty church hall, but how times have changed. Now a new style […]
Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast set to music for choir
HAMPSHIRE, UK — Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast is the inspiration behind a concert being performed by a Portsmouth choir. The well-known broadcast has been set to music to mark the 40th anniversary of the city’s 70-strong festival choir. Composer, Cecilia McDowall, said: “There is great beauty in the rhythm. It’s something that’s mesmerized me for […]
TV fame for a choir that is ready to rock
A NEW TV documentary will be music to the ears of Dunstablians who are part of a singing sensation nicknamed ‘the people’s choir’. They were among thousands of Rock Choir singers filmed giving an inspiring performance at Wembley Arena. And they sung their hearts out at the huge event, seen in The Choir That Rocks, […]