Handing Over the Baton

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Neville Ward and Guy TurnerNeville Ward (right) and Guy Turner exchange a warm handshake at a concert given by the Bingham and District Choral Society at St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe-upon-Trent on 21st November 2015.

Neville formed the choir in 1972 and continued as its Musical Director until his retirement this year, when Guy was appointed to take on this role. Guy is holding a copy of his settings of Three Poems by W.B. Yeats, which he composed at the request of the choir as a tribute to Neville’s outstanding leadership over 43 years. The work was given its World Première at the concert, to the delight of the audience and to Neville in particular, who commented,

They are so skilfully composed and show such a sensitive and expressive response to the text. They will certainly provide a valuable addition to the choir’s repertoire and we feel privileged to have been present at their first public performance.’

Joseph Doody

News, Tenor

Joseph Doody is from Shipley and studied at Edinburgh University, the Royal College of Music, and the National Opera Studio. Operatic roles include Jupiter Semele, Pylade Iphigénie en Tauride, Leicester Maria Stuarda, Ramiro La Cenerentola, and Count Almaviva Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Recent concerts have included Bach’s St John Passion with both the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Hanover Band, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Southbank Sinfonia, Rossini’s Stabat Mater for Leamington Bach Choir, Britten’s orchestral song cycles Serenade for Tenor Horn and Strings and Les Illuminations with Skipton Camerata, Monteverdi’s Vespers at St John’s Smith Square, and Orff’s Carmina Burana with Brighton Festival Chorus. Upcoming engagements include Britten’s St Nicholas with Teddington Choral Society, and the role of Guglielmo in Donizetti’s Viva La Diva at Buxton Opera House. As well as music, his interests include cinema, cooking, and fitness. For more, visit www.josephdoody.co.uk