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News and Performance Opportunities (updated 15 June 2008) |
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Can you help - I am trying to find
a set of orchestral parts for Elgar's Music Makers to hire in April. I
have drawn a blank with several contacts I have found on your site, but
it will be very time consuming to phone all those who have music for
hire. Is there a better way to establish if anyone might have what I am
looking for? Best wishes, Janet Buckle [jmb@logic-net.co.uk] Dorset Guild of Singers |
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| Cranbrook & District Choral Society has a substantial amount of tiered staging and sound reflecting screens available for hire. Naturally there are distance restrictions. Please contact Peter Hoole, Chairman for details. Email wolfitha@hotmail.com | |
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I am chairman of Di Vers, a Danish contemporary choir who has
specialized in making performances that are combinations of choir
concerts and theater plays. Our newest piece is "Siham and Soeren's
Wedding" - a play about the wedding between an Arab woman and a Danish
man (quite relevant in the present situation in Denmark, unfortunately).
All songs in the play are by Sting - songs from several of his albums
set into a new context and in new arrangements. We have also made a CD,
"One Day", and a book with sheet music for most of the songs from the
play. I believe this might be interesting for "British Choirs on the
Net" also, so I will kindly ask if you will mention this on your
website. Please contact me for further information (jesper.holck@ibsgaarden.dk)
and have a look at our web site (mostly in Danish, sorry:
www.di-vers.dk). All the best, Jesper Holck Di Vers |
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David Golightly is seeking choirs with an interest in a recording
his St Petersburg Mass. The work was originally composed for T.T.B.B and
four soloists and received a 10 minute standing ovation at its premiere
in the State Cappela Hall St Petersburg Russia in 1994. My great friend
is Serge Inkov who was choral master for the Kirov and I know would be
interested to contribute or involved with any recording of the Mass. I
would be interested in a CD project for the Mass. I have nearly
completed the re-scoring for S.A.T.B and would support any proposed
recording by providing recording facilities for both the production and
manufacture of the CD. I have used Richard Scott in the past as an
engineer and I also use Mike Briggs in Yorkshire. Both engineers of the
highest quality. However I do appreciate may have their own based
recording team and recording procedure. In addition my company Modrana
Music Publishers Ltd has extensive distribution facilities worldwide and
we could agree a contractual share of CD distribution. I know Soglasie,
the original commissioners of the mass, would want to be involved and
would provide an excellent Russian bass and tenor supplement to any
choir. Though again I know that the quality of most choirs is such they
would not be needed but it might be nice to involve them for the sake of
Russian and Anglo partnership, (Many of Soglasie are Kirov personel).
Obviously this project is for, at the very least, late 2006 or 2007. My own schedule for the next six months both as a composer and conductor is impossibly busy. It would be something for a choir to consider though and obviously would send a score for any conductor to consider of choirs that show a definite interest. I do appreciate choirs must get lots of submissions of scores for consideration. I also understand it is difficult to even consider music by a unknown English composer or even find the time to schedule a work. The Mass I always felt was one of my most spiritual and religious works. I would be willing to share CD rights with any choir and orchestra as long as the deal was fair to both parties. It is, I obviously believe, a very powerful work that at least deserves some consideration. I know if I was fortunate enough to be considered by a choir it would be a very popular vibrant recording and its success would be assured. I will be happy to send a score to any choir that shows a definite interest or arrange a meeting where we could discuss the project further. For more detail contact David Golightly at www.modranamusicpromotions.com |
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Choir Concert in Mexico - Can you help ..
Dear Mr. Tolley, I just found your wonderful site British Choirs
on the Net. I am a composer and I'm trying to organize a concert of
religious music of mine sung in Latin. I am looking for a 4-part choir
of no more than 20 singers. I am familiar with most of the "sacred cows"
of UK choirs (Monteverdi, Tallis, The Sixteen, etc.) and it would
probably be very difficult and expensive to bring them here for just two
concerts. But I am definitely looking for a top notch choir with perfect
diction in Latin and experience in late renaissance-early baroque music.
Would you think off hand of some choirs that would fit this profile
while not being incredibly expensive? If you have any ideas I would
deeply appreciate so that I can contact them. Yours truly, Antonio Fernandez [afros@hotmail.com] |
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ABCD announces new Apprenticeship Scheme The Ernest Cook Trust has awarded the Association of British Choral Directors funding to run an Apprentice scheme for choral leaders. Designed for student and aspiring conductors of all ages, the scheme will enable them to benefit from the guidance of those at the top of their profession. The aim is to offer conductors the chance to work with an experienced choral conductor and their choir in rehearsal, workshop and concert situations over an extended period. Opportunities to learn and practise the skills required to take regular rehearsals with a choir can be very difficult to come by and abcd hopes this will be a chance for student conductors to become familiar with the normal life of a choir under the supervision and guidance of an experienced conductor. The scheme is intended to be very much ‘hands on’, with the apprentice conductor not only observing rehearsals but also taking an active role and possibly working within a concert situation. There would be the opportunity to learn about all the musical aspects, as well as the normal administrative aspects, of working with amateur choral groups. The Association has funding to award up to three apprenticeships across the UK, all of which will run for one year. Apprentice conductors would be expected to attend the majority of the choir’s regular rehearsals and concerts and would also attend monthly tutorials with the choir’s conductor. Whilst the scheme may be of most interest to young conductors looking for hands on experience, this may also be an opportunity for others who are looking to widen their horizons and gain experience in a different field. Anyone interested in applying should get in touch with ABCD’s General Secretary, Rachel Greaves on 01935 398482, email rachel.greaves@abcd.org.uk |
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| British Choirs on the Net are pleased to be added to the Artifact Database. Artifact is a free guide to the best of the Web for architecture, communications, media & culture, design, fashion & beauty, music & the performing arts and visual arts. Artifact aims to be the UK Higher and Further Education first choice for accessing quality online resources for teaching and learning in the arts and creative industries. Each resource and web site in Artifact is selected by subject specialists for its academic quality and subject relevance. | |
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| The Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD) is seeking a qualified accountant as new Honorary Treasurer to replace our wonderful Estelle Marshall who is stepping down due to professional commitments. The post, which carries a modest honorarium, bears responsibility for the Association's book keeping, banking, budgeting, financial reporting and being Company Secretary together with hosting ABCD's registered office. The Trustees are also interested in recruiting a Finance Director to the Board of Trustees, who can contribute particularly to our financial strategy at Board level, including fund-raising and reporting. These positions may be separate or combined depending on the candidate's experience and availability. If you would like to learn further details with a view to applying, you will be welcome to contact the Chair, Andrew Potter, at: ajpotter@ntlworld.com. | |
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| Tim Knight, conductor, composer and 'Choir Doctor' has produced a revised and updated version of his highly successful 'The Survival of Your Choir'. This no-nonsense book offers practical advice on sustaining and revitalising your choir - and if you don't think you need it, you may already be in trouble. A new addition in this version is a section entitled 'Appointing a new conductor'. Copies of this book are available from Tim Knight by email tim.knight@supanet.com | |
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Treblemakers, a 35 member
junior church choir in Stroud, Gloucestershire, needs you.... As a
choir we are desperate for choir robes. We desperately seek robes of
any colour, size, style etc, but in particular any old cassocks,
surplices and pleated ruffs that may be knocking around in churches
that no longer have choirs. If you can help please phone Chris Ebbs
on 01453 546610, or 07979 277850, or
email.
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Can you
help ? ... Kevin Whittingham is a tutor
at Athabasca University, Canada, researching settings of poems from
A. E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad. The composer Richard
Shephard says that he set three Housman poems about twenty years
ago. He no longer has copies, but says that the work was
commissioned by a choir called Canticle in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Perhaps someone knows of the pieces or the choir, or might have its in their library if
it is no longer in print.
If you can help please email Kevin Whittingham - thanks |
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| Miscellaneous items | |
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| Compton Organ Specialists build pipeless Real Time portable organs suitable for choral accompaniment | |
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| If your choir is planning a piece that uses a harmonium, you might like to know about Pam & Phillip Fluke's Harmonium Services in Saltaire, near Shipley, Yorkshire. They hire out a Mustel instrument that's top of the range. It's been hired out to BBC radio & TV, to many choirs, and to events such as the Edinburgh Festival and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. So if you're doing Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, Fauré's Requiem or Cantique de Jean Racine, Stravinsky's Les Noces or various things by Debussy, Berg, Puccini, Gavin Bryars .... e-mail Phillip or phone 01274-585601, mobile 07976-535980. | |