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.
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.
Our summer concert this year was held on Saturday 11 June 2016 in the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Westgate Road; a new venue for the choir.
We were joined by some North East celebrities in an event featuring music, words, and even some dancing, from the local area and beyond.
Kevin Whately
Kitty Whately
Madelaine Newton
Will Lang and Guests
Pianist Joseph Middleton
Music by Will Todd and Will Lang along with more traditional folk music
REVIEW: The Chronicle and Journal published this fantastic review by David Whetstone: click here for review
Prior to the concert, the Chronicle and Journal also published this article with more information about the Whatelys, and the link which was uncovered between the Tyne Theatre and our Chairman! – Chronicle Live Article
Thank you to everyone involved in making this event a great success, and if you came along we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
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Our concert on Saturday 19 March 2016 featured The Creation by Haydn, and was held in the Banqueting Suite of Newcastle Civic Centre.
These fabulous soloists joined us:
Angela Hicks, Soprano
Ben Thapa, Tenor
Dominic Barberi, Bass
We were supported by our friends Orchestra North East, and our Musical Director Mark Anyan conducted.
This concert was dedicated to the memory of John Parker, loyal member of the choir who died in November 2015. A closing collection was held in aid of the Hadrian Trust, and raised over £730. The Trust is a registered charitable trust allocating grants to charities and groups working for the benefit of the people and the environment of Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham, including Hartlepool, for which John acted as solicitor, trustee, correspondent and administrator for almost 40 years.
