It is with great sadness that we announce the recent death of Brenda Philpott, past Chairman of IOW Cantata Choir.
Brenda was a senior teacher at Roedean Private School for Girls in Sussex, and taught at Upper Chine School in Shanklin; becoming its Headmistress.
She was a very enthusiastic, stalwart member of the choir for many years during the 1980s and 1990s, alongside her great friend, and fellow teacher at Upper Chine School, Kate Pugh (who died a few years ago).
Brenda was well-regarded and served as a committee member; including in the role of Alto Section Leader, and then as a hard-working, reliable and dedicated Chairman, remembered as being “very supportive” to Musical Director at the time, Douglas Potts.
When Brenda retired from being Head of Upper Chine School, she liked to travel and is remembered for conscientiously arranging her travel dates around the choir’s rehearsal schedule.
In later years Brenda continued to be a very keen supporter and Patron of the choir.
Aged 92 years, Brenda died in St Marys Hospital, in the early morning hours of Thursday 3rd November, after a short illness.
Brenda was not married, and did not have any immediate or extended family.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with her friends who remember her fondly.
IOW Cantata Choir was invited by the Isle of Wight High Sheriff 2022, Kay Marriott, to participate in the Service To Mark The Beginning Of The Law Year Of The Isle Of Wight Courts 2022/23.
The Service took place on Monday 10th October 2022, at Newport Minster.
From the Middle Ages judges have sat at Assizes, and it was the High Sheriff’s duty to protect the judges and to arrange these Assizes Services.
The Legal Year starts in October and is traditionally recognised by a ceremonial procession of legal representatives and dignitaries, culminating in a church service, to demonstrate that they represent the power and authority of the Crown.
In continuing the traditional procession and service, it emphasises the importance of upholding the Law for the well-being of the community.
Musical Director Rachel Tweddle conducted IOW Cantata Choir in Hubert Parry’s anthem ‘I Was Glad’, with Douglas Potts as organ accompanist.
IOW Cantata Choir and Ryde School Choir also sang John Rutter’s anthem ‘The Lord Bless You And Keep You’.
For our Autumn 2022 Concert, we perform George Frideric Handel’s best-known work, Messiah.
This large-scale oratorio, composed within 24 days and first performed in 1742, is an immense blending of musical textures.
The many and varied choruses and solos are in equal measure; bold and triumphant, serene, harmonious and melodic, joyous and profound.
It is one of the most enduring works of all time, with the rousing Hallelujah Chorus being one of the most famous and well-loved within the Baroque music genre.
It is a great honour that the choir was invited, by the Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, to sing in the Service of Thanksgiving in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, on Sunday 18th September, at The Minster, St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight.
Our repertoire was: I Was Glad (Hubert Parry) and God Be In My Head (Walford Davies).
