Newcastle Choral Society
Musical Director Mark Anyan
HALLELUJAH it’s Christmas!
Saturday 9 December 2017, 7.30pm
Trinity Church Gosforth
Handel – Messiah Part 1
Bob Chilcott – The Twelve Days of Christmas
Kris Thomsett organ
and special guests Quintessential Voices
Our Christmas programme was very well received by a near capacity audience! It began with music from Part I of Handel’s ever-popular Messiah. This section of the oratorio dealt with the prophecy of Christ’s coming, the circumstances of His birth, and rejoiced over the significance of the event, all as described in various books of the Bible. We sneakily added the famous Hallelujah! Chorus from Part 2, always a popular chorus.
After this impressive introduction to the festive season we lightened the mood with an imaginative version of The Twelve Days of Christmas by the prolific choral composer Bob Chilcott. Not to be missed, it incorporated some witty references to other well-known pieces of music and got the whole choir uplifted.
Our friends, a cappella group Quintessential Voices, added to the programme with their fine ensemble singing with a very catchy encore. The smiling audience joined us in some favourite carols. Kris Thomsett on the organ and piano was something else! Flying fingers and extremely competent.
If you want to stockpile our very eyecatching fliers , download HALLELUJAH it’s Christmas! here.
Our Away Day and Let’s SING!
23rd September 2017 was great fun!
We had a goodly number of guest singers joining us at Newcastle Falcons Platinum Suite Kingston Park where we learnt such a lot about Vocal Technique from the brilliant Miranda Wright – Masterclass leader and singing teacher Samling Academy; Head of Classical Singing Newcastle University; Durham Cathedral Choristers; National Youth Choirs of Great Britain
We enjoyed singing the MESSIAH CHORUSES and learning fun African songs with Mark Anyan
Director of Newcastle Choral Society; General Manager of National Youth Choir of Great Britain
If you are interested in joining the choir that ‘pushes the songboat out’ a little further than most choirs, register for an audition by contacting enquiries@newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk
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We had a special Summertime Treat on Saturday July 1st! Newcastle Choral Society led by Mark Anyan, joined forces with 60 children from 3 primary schools and the ‘Call Me Al’ quintet led by composer Alexander L’Estrange, to perform his joyous cantata ‘Ahoy’ Sing for the Mary Rose
This was a unique opportunity for the children from Seaton Sluice First School Whitley Bay, Eastlea Primary School Cramlington in south east Northumberland and from St Godrics RC Primary School in Durham to work with professional artists and the choir in the iconic Turbine Hall in The Castlegate, Melbourne Street Newcastle upon Tyne.
Specially designed banners hung from the 5m high steel columns in the Turbine Hall. Each school was given a signed banner to display in their school halls.
A quote from one of the Head teachers ‘It was a wonderful opportunity and I am sure that it is one that the children will remember forever. Thank you too for the banner which we will proudly hang in out school hall!‘
Funding was received from Hadrian Trust and the Roland Cookson Community Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Support was also acknowledged from The Castlegate and Emma Bunting Creative Designer
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Bach ‘B Minor Mass’
Bach’s Mass in B minor stands as one of the finest works in all music.
Completed in the final years of his life it can be regarded as the crowning glory
in the career of one whom many regard as the greatest-ever composer
Saturday 25 March 2017 7.30
Banqueting Suite
Newcastle Civic Centre
Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson soprano
Beth Mackay alto
Peter Davoren tenor
Andri Björn Róbertsson bass
Orchestra North East
Newcastle Choral Society
(Musical Director Mark Anyan)
£15 (£8 for those in full time education or
registered unemployed,
free to under 18s with a paying adult)
email: enquiries@newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk
Phone: 0191 2854868 or 0191 2866338
online www.wegottickets.com
Saturday 10 December, 2016
7.30 pm, Banqueting Suite, Civic Centre
With special guest stars Quintessentialvoices
who proved to be very popular with the appreciative audience who
enjoyed the fusion of different styles of music and the dash of Christmas sparkle!
Schubert, Whitacre, Vaughan Williams and Festive favourites!
JAMES MORGAN bass PAUL BRAIDEN tenor ELIZABETH WOODS soprano
MIKE DUTTON Organ
CAMEO STRING QUARTET
The Concert formed part of the Council’s celebrations of 800 years of Mayoralty and Freemen in Newcastle
The closing collection was held in aid of the Charlie Bear Cancer Appeal; one of the current Lord Mayor’s four chosen charities in her Mayoral year, and raised over £500.
On Sunday 25 September 2016 we had an exciting day, in the lovely setting of Ushaw College, learning songs from Mary Poppins. The event was led by Ben Parry, Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, and was “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”!
The day was open to anybody who wanted to be part of the chorus, join others in a good old sing-song (including kids), or be part of the audience when we gave a performance at the end of the day. Fancy dress was optional, but many people felt this added to the spirit of the day!
This Sunday was the 2nd day of a special weekend for us. We had a choral workshop on the Saturday, working on pieces by Schubert and Bach, to improve vocal techniques. We enjoyed a lovely meal in the evening, with a cappella group Quintessential Voices providing us with superb entertainment. Particular thanks are due to three of the group for a special time this weekend – MD Mark Anyan, our ‘in house’ singing teacher Jim Morgan (not many choirs have one of them included as part of subscriptions) and Elizabeth Woods, our wonderful Mary Poppins. Fantastic!
