Sing Messiah invitation, Ruddington
Invitation to sing the Verdi Requiem with Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe & District Choral Society celebrates 80 years of performing in its current form in 2025. As part of this celebration we’re excited to offer a one-off opportunity to anybody who would like to join us in rehearsing Verdi’s Requiem in the early part of next year, leading up to a performance in The Baths Hall on 6th April 2025.
The performance will be conducted by Neil Ferris, director of the BBC Symphony Chorus and we will be performing alongside four high calibre professional soloists, Gainsborough Choral Society and a 63 piece strong orchestra. Verdi’s Requiem is a truly iconic and thrilling choral work. Opportunities to sing in it do not come along often, and we know for many singers it is a life ambition to take part at least once. And those who have sung in it before are bound to want to do so again!
Any singer is welcome to join us in this exciting performance. All we ask is that they commit to attending our or Gainsborough’s rehearsals, and that they pay a one off contribution of £50 to help cover the costs of this ambitious undertaking. Any level of singer is welcome; our highly respected and talented chorusmaster Susan Hollingworth will provide the tuition to bring us all together in harmony. Both Scunthorpe and Gainsborough rehearse on a Thursday evening from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Rehearsals will start on 9th January at Bottesford Baptist Church on Chancel Road, Bottesford, Scunthorpe, DN16 3LD and All Saints’ Church, Church Street, Gainsborough DN21 2JR.
We’d be grateful if you could extend this invitation to members of your choir, and very much hope some of them would like to join us. If you would like any more information please don’t hesitate to contact me on this email address.
Kind Regards,
Alex
Alex Godfrey, Chairman
Michael Overbury – Forthcoming Performances
- Saturday 9th November, 2024
St Martin’s Church, Trevose Gardens, Sherwood NG5 3FU
7.30pm
with Sinfonia Chorale directed by Richard Roddis
organ accompaniments and solo
Palestrina O Magnum Mysterium, Quem Vidistis & Agnus Dei (Missa Brevis)
Bruckner Agnus Dei (Mass in E minor) & Christus Factus est
5′ Théodore Dubois (1837-1924) Sortie (Grand Choeur) in E
Dubois was a Parisian organist and choirmaster, and Professor at the Conservatoire. This Sortie is in neo-classical syle and, interestingly is marked Moderato.
Stanford Farewell, my joy, The Blue bird & The Train
Fauré Requiem
Saturday 16th November 2024
St Peter’s Parish Church, Ruddington
7.30pm
Ruddington and District Choral Society with piano, chamber orchestra, vocal soloists
conducted by Paul Hayward
Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine (1865). This prayer includes the following line. O Christ look with favour on your faithful people now gathered together to bless your name, receive the songs we offer to your eternal glory, and may we return laden with your blessings.
Ravel Pavane pour une Infante défunte
Brahms A German Requiem (sung in English) (the arrangement for reduced instrumental forces by Ian Farrington)
Saturday 7th December 2024
The Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
7pm
harpsichord continuo with Orchestra da Camera & Nottingham Harmonic Society
conducted by Richard Laing
Handel Messiah
Monday 9th December 2024
St Peter’s Church, Ruddington
7.30pm
organ accompanist
Come-and-Sing with Ruddington and District Choral Society
conducted by Paul Hayward, with vocal soloists
Handel Messiah
Saturday 14th December 2024
Bingham Parish Church, Nottinghamshire
7.30pm
A Concert of Music and Carols for Christmas including one or two organ solos
Bingham and District Choral Society and Newark * Choristers conducted by Dr Stephen Bullamore
Saturday 18th January 2025
Bramcote Parish Church
10am
accompanist
Come-and-Sing-and-Play with Sinfonia Choraleconductor Richard Roddis
Repertoire by Mozart
Saturday 15th March 2025
venue tbd
Sinfonia Chorale directed by Richard Roddis
Repertoire by Mozart
Saturday 29th March 2025
Bishops Stortford
organ continuo with Mvsica Donvm Dei period-instrument orchestra
J.S. Bach St Matthew Passion
Saturday 5th April 2025
Bingham Parish Church, Nottinghamshire
7.30pm
Bingham and District Choral Society conducted by Dr Stephen Bullamore
Brahms A German Requiem (the arrangement for reduced instrumental forces by Ian Farrington)
Friday 13th June 2025
Southwell Minster
Lunchtime Concert
Bingham and District Choral Society conducted by Dr Stephen Bullamore
Free entry
Programme to include
Songs and Legends of Robin Hood Guy Turner
Saturday 13th December 2025
St Peter’s Church, Ruddington
7.30pm
organ accompanist with Ruddington and District Choral Society
conducted by Paul Hayward, with vocal soloists
Missa Sancti Nicolai Joseph Haydn
Carols for Choirs 1 selections t.b.d.
Fantasia on Christmas Carols Ralph VaughanWilliams
BDCS Singing Day with Bob Chilcott 24/2/24
The sun shone and the singers came from near and far. One person had got up at dawn and driven up from London that morning. Such is the charisma of Bob Chilcott, one of the leading choral composers and conductors of our time. Bingham and District Choral Society was honoured that he had agreed to lead our first Singing Day since the pandemic. The Minster School at Southwell was an excellent, spacious venue. Ably supported by our superb accompanist Michael Overbury, Bob led us through a selection of his own pieces, some hauntingly lyrical, others challenging us with exciting, complex rhythms. In-between sessions, a magnificent selection of home-baked cakes was eagerly consumed by the singers. In short, we had all the ingredients for a hugely successful day. Our thanks go to Bob, Michael and the volunteers from BDCS who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to enable everything to run so smoothly.
Spreading the Kindness of Christmas
The Bingham & District Choral Society’s Christmas Concert is a hugely popular community event and a highlight of our winter programme. This year’s concert took place last Saturday at Bingham Methodist Church where we were joined once more by the wonderful Carnarvon Children’s choir. After the performance, there was a retiring collection for Framework, a Nottingham-based charity whose mission is to support and house homeless people. The collection raised the splendid sum of £400. Also included were two hearing-aid batteries and a small Euro coin!
Video recording of Jubilee ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert
With sincere thanks to the students from Nottingham Trent University who created the video: Georgia Alvey (Producer, Editor and Vision Mixer), Hannah Barnaby, Haris Dar, Ollie Ellis (Camera Operators), Adam Oldfield (Production Assistant), Jack Perkins, Tyla Sutton, Joseph Hay, Joshua Thacker, Cameron Patrick, Ethan Stuart (Audio).
Many thanks also to Brad Poulson for his patience and technical wizardry in uploading the video to YouTube
Farewell to Guy
Guy’s Long Walk – Final Round-Up
Guy’s heroic endeavour to walk from Land’s End to John ‘O Groats was followed eagerly by members of the choir in the summer. We are now able to announce that, as one of Guy’s four charities selected to benefit from the funds raised by his walk, Bingham and District Choral Society will receive £3,121.60 . This is a splendid boost to the choir’s finances at a time when extra resources are badly needed. We are hugely grateful to Guy and wish him every success in completing the walk in shorter stages over the next year or two.
LAND’S END TO …. ER …. ELLESMERE
Despite a great start, local musician Guy Turner’s solo attempt to walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats was cut short at Ellesmere. He woke up with a very painful foot, which was diagnosed as Plantar Fasciitis, brought on by constant heavy duty walking, and was forced to call a halt to the walk.
Guy has now returned to Nottinghamshire and his work as a singer in Southwell Minster Choir, and conducting Bingham Choral Society.
Despite the great disappointment, Guy prefers to emphasise the positive! He walked 468 miles in 28 walking days, which averages nearly 17 miles per day. He survived long walks and high hills during the heat wave. He has raised over £18,000 for his four charities. He met lots of interesting people and saw some amazing scenery. Even though shorter than planned it is an adventure he will never forget.
He plans to complete the journey over the next couple of years, but in short sections.
If you would like to read about his walk, all the daily blogs can still be found on his website, as can details of the charities and how to donate.
https://guyscottturner.wixsite.com/guygoesnorth
Jubilee Lunchtime Concert, Lunch and Presentation
Here are some images of our lunchtime concert with Scunthorpe Choral Society at St Mary’s Church Newark on Saturday 18th June 2022, followed by a celebration lunch and a presentation of a set of Jubilee mugs to our founder and first Musical Director, Neville Ward. Our special thanks go to James Turner, the photographer.