Our Singing Day with Bob Chilcott – was a remarkable, joyous, uplifting, rewarding, and thoroughly marvellous day.
We sold out of our 100 (covid-safe venue capacity) tickets, with a large proportion being to singers and members of other choirs on the Island, and further afield – such is the appeal of the accomplished, much admired and one of the nations most prominent choral composers, Bob Chilcott.
It was a huge privilege for us all, to be given a master-class in choral singing, by such a warm, infectiously enthusiastic, insightful and encouraging maestro.
After some initial vocal exercises, which informed Bob of the capabilities of our voices, (slightly rusty after the last 18 months) as much as warming them up, we commenced with Songs my Heart has Taught Me.
As Bob’s most recent composition, we were thrilled to be one of the first groups to rehearse it, not least with such bespoke coaching.
Bob’s leadership and direction alternated between practising and polishing – guiding us through more challenging passages, and providing us with insights into the tone, symbolism and resonance of the wording and note composition.
Throughout the rest of the day, we also worked on Bob’s famous The Lily and The Rose, and the first movement from his Aesop’s Fables, with charming anecdotes of Bob’s times as a singer, composer and musical director, throughout his full and varied years of experience.
We rounded off, with a mini-concert to ourselves, of all the pieces on which we had progressed during the day…singing our hearts out until the end.
Bob Chilcott is a fabulous all-rounder, with great flair and taste – a quintessential National Treasure – and we loved, and are very appreciative, that he spent the day with us, here on the Isle of Wight.
Enormous thanks to Bob Chilcott and all participants for a wonderful Singing Day yesterday.
It was an absolutely super day, to all join together, and be guided with such inspiration, encouragement and insight from Bob, in singing some of his most uplifting pieces: The Lily and the Rose and his stunningly beautiful and resounding new work: Songs My Heart Has Taught Me.
A truly lovely and rewarding day.
Thank you to everyone, for your time, efforts and voices.
To Richard Wilkins our accompanist, for, as always, being utterly awesome.
And to the excellent team at the venue: St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor, whose support was tireless and unstinting, and whose refreshment service was outstanding.
Bob Chilcott – Britain’s favourite choral composer – is coming to the Island, to direct the Isle of Wight Cantata Choir’s Singing Day, at St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor on Saturday 11th September.
Anyone who is even remotely interested in choral singing, should be there!
As a composer, conductor and singer, Bob Chilcott has enjoyed a lifelong association with choral music, first as a chorister and choral scholar in the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and for 12 years as a member of the King’s Singers. He became a full-time composer in 1997 and has produced a large catalogue of music for all types of choirs. His most often performed pieces include Can you hear me?, A Little Jazz Mass, Requiem, and St John Passion.
Bob is bringing his unique talent to the Island’s singers, most of whom have not been able or allowed to sing at all since March 2020.
He has conducted choirs in more than 30 countries worldwide and has worked with many thousands of amateur singers across the UK in a continuing series of Singing Days. For seven years he was conductor of the Chorus of The Royal College of Music in London and since 2002 he has been Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers. In 2017 Bob was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by The Royal School of Church Music and in 2019 took up the role of Principal Conductor with Birmingham University Singers.
The Singing Day begins at 9.30am. There are two singing sessions in the morning, with refreshments in between, before the lunch break. The afternoon session has another break and we finish at 4.45pm, by running through the pieces we have learned. Singers of all abilities are welcome and everybody will benefit from singing together.
The Day will be spent working on some of Bob’s old favourites, including Aesop’s Fables and the gorgeous The Lily and the Rose. The great news is that we’ll sing Bob’s latest work, Songs my Heart has Taught Me, which has so far only been performed in lockdown. You could be one of the first to sing it in public!
In this passionate four-movement work, Bob and lyricist Delphine Chalmers explore themes of inclusivity, identity, and unity. The middle movements, ‘Harmony’ and ‘Rhythm’, have strong grooves and rhythmic drive, while the outer movements, ‘Unison’ and ‘Resolution’, are steadfast and uplifting. Songs my Heart has Taught Me brings singers and audience together in a celebration of all that unites us.
This will be a really exciting day. Bob’s skill at encouraging choirs to give of their best doesn’t stop him being a very interesting and amusing coach. Bookings are already building up fast so don’t delay.
Tickets are £15, which includes printed music. Refreshments are available upon a small donation and there is ample time in the middle of the day to enjoy your own packed lunch or sample one of Ventnor’s many eateries.
