Previous concerts
Our final festive concert of the year, in December 2024, included festive carols along with Benjamin Britten’s St Nicolas Cantata accompanied by strings, piano duet, organ and a really exciting percussion part. We welcomed back Arturo Serna as guest conductor.
Our May 2024 concert was an opportunity for the choir to sing a whole range of choral pieces with some solo items and readings as well. From some 16th century pieces, to Eric Whitacre’s Seal Lullaby, from Gerald Finzi’s My Spirit Sang All Day to Gershwin’s Summertime and songs performed by our own soloists: Angela Ashworth, Geoff Allan & Malcolm Parr. Ashley Marshfield also joined us to play some piano duets with our deputy musical director, Claire Sydenham.
We started 2024 with a wonderful community concert on Sunday 3 March, in collaboration with King's School Bruton pupils, staff and parents, and pupils from Bruton Primary School. We were joined by mezzo soprano Louise Innes, to perform John Rutter's Feel the Spirit, a collection of spiritual arrangements in a jazzy upbeat style. The performance was directed by Ashley Marshfield, Director of Music at King's.
In 2023 we performed three concerts to celebrate our 30th anniversary year:
December 2023: Seasonal music by J S Bach and Born a King by William Lloyd Webber. Featuring trumpet soloist Eliza Talman and Ashley Marshfield on the organ.
May 2023: Excerpts from Vivaldi's Gloria, operatic works by Verdi and a medley of songs from the Rogers & Hammerstein musical Oklahoma.
March 2023: Fauré's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Rancine, and Panis Angelicus by Franck. Guest conducted by Arturo Serna.
Our previous concerts have included a range of traditional and modern choral music from composers such as Elgar, Handel, John Rutter, Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre and George Gershwin.
We have welcomed guest musicians and soloists including Cecilia De Maria, Kirsten Mulcahy, the Sir Godfrey Kneller Brass Ensemble and Faelan Sydenham.
Spring concert - Sunday 16th March 2025
In January 2025 we will resume our rehearsals with two concerts in our sights. On Sunday 16th March we will perform with King’s Bruton choir an exciting work by Alexander L’Estrange and Joanna Forbes L’Estrange: Freedom! - the Power of Song. It is hoped some children from Bruton Primary School will also take part in this project. This powerful and emotive work celebrates the role singing has played throughout history, bringing people together in times of struggle, upheaval and change.
We will also start looking at a whole range of contrasting choral pieces in preparation for our own summer concert on Sunday May 11th.