Press Release:
Calling all singers!
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.
For All Information and to Book Tickets, go to: www.iowcantatachoir.co.uk/events