We’re excited to give you some more details about the upcoming show by Harwich and Dovercourt Choral Society on Sat 22nd June at St Nicholas Church (7.30pm).
Harwich and Dovercourt Choral Society was first mentioned in the press in 1891 and has continued in its present format since 1921 bringing pleasure to many people through its singing and social activities ever since. We sing a wide variety of genres from traditional choral pieces to medleys from the musicals and fun items such as Bare Necessities
Despite the restrictions of Covid the Society continued to meet with online rehearsals to ensure that a century of song could be achieved in 2021
and we celebrated with a “Come and Sing” Messiah on Saturday 16th October in St Nicholas Church, Harwich, whilst more recently we performed in the Electric Palace Harwich for the Lady Mayoress’ Charity concert.’
Our Festival Concert this year has been sometime in the planning and we are pleased to have the “Mayflower Ensemble” plus our Soloists and friends from other local choirs joining us for what will be a great night of music.
——-
Gill Wilson – Soprano
GILL WILSON began her singing career in Adelaide, Australia, where her distinctive coloratura style was in demand in arias such as Der Hölle Rache and Let the Bright Seraphim. She performed on ABC Radio with Certaine Notes, a South Australian group specialising in Renaissance music, and was a member of numerous other respected choirs and ensemble groups.
Gill regularly performs as a soprano soloist with choral societies in the East of England, including Harwich and Dovercourt, Lexden, Colchester Bach Choir and Colchester Choral Society. Recent performances include: Haydn’s Creation, Handel’s Messiah and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. Gill is also a regular recitalist at Lion Walk United Church in Colchester and at Long Melford.
Elaine Henson – Alto
ELAINE HENSON is a graduate of the Universities of Exeter and Durham and a singing Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has been a regular soloist with Suffolk Opera, Commedia Productions, and with many choral societies throughout Britain. Overseas engagements have included a series of concerts in France, and a tour of Chicago and Milwaukee with the Amici Singers of Bedford.
Operatic roles include Bizet’s Carmen, Purcell’s Dido, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Berta in The Barber of Seville, Suzuki in Madam Butterfly Anna in Maria Stuarda, Flora in La Traviata, and Third Witch in Macbeth. She performed the Alto solos in John Rutter’s Feel the Spirit, conducted by the composer, and was a soloist in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion under the baton of Sir Colin Davis. Alongside her performing and teaching commitments, Elaine has also worked as a music examiner for Trinity College London.
Matthew Keighley – Tenor
MATTHEW KEIGHLEY is in high demand across the UK and Ireland as a concert soloist. Originally from Blackpool Matthew’s singing training and career developed after graduating with a degree in Philosophy from Manchester Metropolitan University. He undertook a choral scholarship at Gloucester Cathedral, where he later served as Lay Clerk. He subsequently obtained a master’s at the Royal College of Music, where he was a Soiree d’Or Scholar, and studied under Tim Evans-Jones. He has performed with the early music ensemble “Sestina” and the London Oriana Choir. Equally at home with opera repertoire, Matthew has also performed in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and Lennox Berkley’s “A Dinner Engagement”.
Gary Griffiths – Bass
GARY GRIFFITHS sings frequently throughout Suffolk, Essex and East London. His repertoire includes Requiems by Brahms, Fauré, Duruflé and Howard Goodall, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonelle, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Haydn’s The Seasons, Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
A versatile singer, Gary has previously sung the role of Aeneas for Braintree and Harleston Choral Societies and the Gippeswyck Singers; he has appeared in operatic roles with Suffolk Opera, Commedia Opera and Trinity Methodist Music and Drama.
As an ensemble singer, Gary was for many years a member of Country House Opera and of Ipswich-based Four Voices, singing popular opera and show songs. He has also sung with the (coincidentally-named) Eight Voices in London, specialising in unaccompanied pre-Baroque music.
Also, I wonder if we could make something of it being Karl Jenkins’ 80th birthday this year?
Karl Jenkins at 80
The 80th birthday of Karl Jenkins, one of the world’s most performed living composers, was on 17 February 2024. On 10 March he began a UK tour that began at the Royal Albert Hall with a concert marking the 3,000th performance of “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace”, which has travelled the world since its premiere in April 2000. Commissioned by the Royal Armouries, and based on the 15th century French poem “L’homme armé”, the mass reflects on the horrors of war. It is still Jenkins’ best known work.
Harwich and Dovercourt Choral Society is excited to perform Jenkins’ “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace (Choral Suite), a selection of choral excerpts, in the composer’s 80th birthday year.