Truro Choral Society
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The web site of Truro Choral Society
Truro Choral Society was established in 1962. It is the largest choral society in Cornwall, currently with a membership of 110, and performs the major
choral works, as well as contemporary works, including a number of premieres.
Rehearsals take place at the new
Richard Lander School
near
Truro on Tuesdays from 7.00 to 9.00 pm.
The musical director is Michael
Edwards - click here to read some notes that he has
kindly provided.
To enquire about joining Truro Choral Society, you may contact Anne Bartlett,
telephone 01326 317241 or email
anne.bartlett2@btinternet.com.
The society exists to give everyone an opportunity to sing choral
music. There is no audition for prospective members.
Truro Choral Society performs two or three concerts each year, usually in Truro Cathedral.
There is also an occasional family Christmas concert in the cathedral.
In 1997 the society was invited to participate in the gala opening concert in the Hall for Cornwall, performing Orff's Carmina Burana, under the baton of Sir David Willcocks.
In 2000, the society performed Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius to celebrate the Centenary of the first performance of this work.
In May 2002 the society celebrated its 40th anniversary with a concert when choral highlights from the previous 40 years were performed. At the same time a new book, The Story of Truro
Choral Society, dedicated to the memory of the two founders of the society,
was launched. Written by Isobel Hedges, and costing £5.00, it can be purchased
from any member of the society or by contacting Roger Deeming - telephone 01326
377189.
"From the start it is entertaining. This really is history, skilfully laid out and full of references to places and people who had, like me, never thought of themselves as part of a changing scene until the changes had taken place..... Well produced and illustrated in colour, this is worth £5 of anyone's money, even if, like me, you are not deeply into choral singing, history, or Truro." - Ian Searle, newsletter of U3A (University of the Third Age) - Carrick - August 2002
ANNOUNCEMENT 12th MARCH 2008:
CHORAL SINGING WORKSHOP
Saturday, 4th
October 2008
Truro School Chapel
We are very fortunate in being able to offer you the opportunity to sing with Paul Martyn-West.
Just click here to
view details and print out an application form.
Please return your completed form to Joan Nunn (address on the form) with your
cheque and SAE, by 20th September.
Forthcoming Concerts:
In Truro Cathedral [Note:-
Justin Lavender has agreed to replace
Andrew Carwood, our previously
advertised tenor. Andrew has recently been appointed as
Director of Music at
St Paul's Cathedral. Click on the blue underlined links to learn more]
Saturday 8th November 2008 at
7.30pm
In Truro Methodist Church Chaconne in G minor for strings
Recent Concerts:
Saturday 7th June 2008 at
7.30pm
Edward Elgar
-
The Dream of Gerontius
Soloists:
Louise Poole
(Mezzo-soprano)
Justin Lavender (Tenor)
Michael Pearce (Bass)
With the Plymouth Philharmonic Choir,
The Bridgeman Singers, and the Senior Choir of Truro High School for Girls.
Antonio Salieri
-
Mass in D (Hofkapellmeistermesse)
Henry Purcell
Ode for St Cecilia's
Day 1692
Tomaso Albinoni / Remo Giazoto
Adagio for Organ and
Strings in G minor
Saturday 28th February 2009
Truro Cathedral
Andrew Campling
Jesus of
Nazareth
Mozart
Coronation Mass
Exsultate
Jubilate
Robert Coates
Quintet
for organ and strings
Saturday
17th October 2009
Truro Cathedral
Durufle
Requiem
Haydn
Theresienmesse
Vaughan Williams
Serenade to
Music
| Saturday 19th January 2008 | ||
| In Truro Cathedral | ||
| Rossini | - | Petite Messe Solennelle |
| SS Wesley | - | Blessed be the God and Father |
| Vaughan Williams | - | Five Mystical Songs |
| Soloists: | ||
| Claire Seaton (Soprano) | ||
| Susanna Spicer (Mezzo-soprano) | ||
| Nicholas Mulroy (Tenor) | ||
| Michael Bundy (Bass) | ||
|
Saturday 1st December 2007 |
||
|
In Truro Cathedral |
||
| George Frederick Handel | - | MESSIAH |
| Soloists: | ||
| Louise Merrifield (Soprano) | ||
| Joanna Gamble (Contralto) | ||
| Paul Martyn-West (Tenor) | ||
| John Hobbs (Bass) | ||
Tickets for our concerts can be bought from the Hall for Cornwall box office, Tel: 01872 262466. They are also available 'on the door' at all the concerts.
The society exists to give everyone an opportunity to sing choral music. There is no audition for prospective members.
To enquire about joining Truro Choral Society, you may contact Anne Bartlett,
telephone 01326 317241 or email
anne.bartlett2@btinternet.com.
Musical Director - Michael Edwards
Michael has been the MD of Truro Choral Society since September I994; in the summer of 2006 he became the longest-serving MD after its founder, Henry Mills. The performance of Sir Edward Elgar's "The Dream of Gerontius" in June 2008 will mark the society's 100th public performance, as well as Michael's 40th appearance as TCS´s musical director.
Michael has spent all his professional life working with choirs; after graduating from the Royal College of Music in 1971 he worked in various Grammar Schools in Kent, combining this with a demanding church post at St Michael & All Angels Maidstone, then with the post of Assistant Organist (twice!) at Rochester Cathedral in the 1980s. For 14 years in the 1970s and 80s he was Accompanist and Assistant MD of Rochester Choral Society, and during that time he also worked briefly at seminaries and cathedrals in Bratislava, Quimper and Lubeck.
After moving to West Cornwall in 1990, Michael built up a substantial private teaching practice. He is now in his 25th year as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, for whom he examines abroad as well as in the UK, and marks theory papers from all over the world. He has been the Musical Director of Truro Choral Society since 1994, and is now TCS´s longest-serving MD. Previous engagements have included those of Chorus Master for Duchy Opera (still the longest-serving Chorus Master, to date!) and MD of The Duchy Singers. Performing, composing, music processing, small-scale publishing and musical journalism occupy spare corners of time.
Michael and his wife Janet (a professional violinist and
teacher) live in Truro. Their
daughter Sophie attends Truro High School for Girls, plays the violin and piano
(not that she has much choice, under the circumstances), and breeds guinea pigs.
The February 2005 Concert - A Postscript
On Saturday 19th February 2005 the concert included Bryan Kelly's Crucifixion
This was performed in the presence of the composer. After the concert, Bryan Kelly commented favourably on the performance:
"I was so impressed by your
performance of my work - congratulations to you and the choir. Many thanks to
Linda Pelham also, for her kind help. It was especially pleasing to have such a
large and enthusiastic audience! With very best wishes to you all,
Bryan Kelly."
The Truro Choral Society Web Site is maintained by Andrew Crawshaw -
contact address:
Crawshaws@aol.com Mevagissey, who also hosts the
web site of St
Austell Choral Society -
www.staustellchoralsociety.co.uk