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THE CHICHESTER SINGERS
The Chichester Singers are an established part of musical life in Chichester and West Sussex. Formed nearly 50 years ago, the choir has over 130 members and, under our Conductor and Director of Music, Jonathan Willcocks, we work with professional musicians and produce music to a very high standard. Most of all, we enjoy our music and want to share that enjoyment with our audiences and members, who come both from the city and further afield. Each July, the choir sings a major work as part of the Chichester Festivities. Last year we performed Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and in July this year we are singing The Creation by Haydn. During the past 12 years we have been visiting European cities for short concert tours. These have included Paris, Chartres (with which Chichester is twinned), Brussels, Ghent and also Ravenna (another Chichester 'twin') and Padua in Italy. In June this year we are giving concerts in Granada and Seville - the latter on behalf of the Seville and District Down's Syndrome Association.
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Our
Conductor
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JONATHAN WILLCOCKS
Developing from his early experience as a chorister at King's College, Cambridge, and as a choral scholar at Trinity College, Jonathan Willcocks's career has embraced a broad spectrum of conducting work throughout the world, and he is also prominent as a widely published composer. In addition to his roles as Conductor and Musical Director of the Chichester Singers, the Portsmouth Choral Union and the professional chamber orchestra Southern Pro Musica, freelance conducting engagements of both his own music and the general orchestral and choral repertoire have taken him to many parts of the world. He travels regularly to the USA, where his appearances in recent seasons have included a series of concerts in Carnegie Hall in New York, and conducting engagements have also taken him to France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Australia and Singapore, in addition to engagements throughout the UK. The year 2001 included conducting debuts in South Africa and Canada, and 2002/3 will include concerts in many parts of the world, with premieres of two major choral compositions in Texas and Alabama, USA. Jonathan Willcocks's compositions encompass large-scale orchestral scores and chamber music in addition to the many choral works published principally by Oxford University Press and Lorenz (USA). Commissions in recent years have included works for the London Bach Choir, Worcester Three Choirs Festival, Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir, Open University Choir, Green Lake Festival and many other choirs in the USA. There are now many recordings of his works, including two CDs devoted entirely to his choral music - Magnificat (PRCD 668) and the recently released recording of Lux Perpetua, Gloria and Ring Ye the Bels (PRCD 770). He has continued an active involvement in music education, having been Director of the Junior Academy, Royal Academy of Music in London, since 1989. For further information about Jonathan Willcocks, visit http://www.jonathanwillcocks.com |
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More
About Us
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Hear the Chichester Singers ! Most of our concerts are held in Chichester Cathedral, but in recent years we have performed in many places such as Goodwood House, Chichester Festival Theatre, Arundel Cathedral, Portsmouth Guildhall and the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. Sing with the Chichester Singers ! Become a singing member and enjoy making music with us. In auditions we look for a good, but not necessarily trained voice, reasonable sight-reading and lots of enthusiasm for choral music. We are always seeking new members in all voice parts. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays during the school term (excluding half term), from 7.00 pm till 9.00 pm, at Chichester High School for Boys in Kingsham Road. For further information, please contact our Membership Secretary, Wendy Bray, on 01243 779428. Support the Chichester Singers ! Become a Patron and, in return for an annual donation, receive complimentary tickets, priority booking and information on our concerts. Become a Friend and have your name added to our mailing list for priority booking. For further information, contact our Hon. Secretary, Jill Selwood, on 01243 512385, or j.selwood@virgin.net
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Future
Concerts
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FUTURE CONCERTS 2002 SATURDAY, 23rd MARCH Missa Brevis Kodaly Chichester Cathedral, 7.30 pm Serenade for Wind in D minor Dvorak Mass No.2 in E minor Bruckner ______________________________________________________________________________ SATURDAY, 1st JUNE Concert in Granada, Spain MONDAY, 3rd JUNE Concert in Seville, Spain _____________________________________________________________________ SATURDAY, 6th JULY The Creation Haydn Chichester Cathedral, 7.30 pm (Chichester Festivities) _____________________________________________________________________ SATURDAY, 16th NOVEMBER Israel in Egypt Handel Chichester Cathedral, 7.30 pm _____________________________________________________________________ SUNDAY, 15th DECEMBER Family Carol Concert St Paul's Church, 3.00 pm _____________________________________________________________________ 2003 SATURDAY, 29th MARCH Te Deum Haydn Chichester Cathedral, 7.30 pm Oboe Concerto Boughton Lux Perpetua Willcocks Dvorak Mass in D _____________________________________________________________________ SATURDAY, 12th JULY Toward the Unknown Region Vaughan Williams Chichester Cathedral, 7.30 pm Enigma Variations Elgar (Chichester Festivities) A Sea Symphony Vaughan Williams _____________________________________________________________________ Current Ticket Prices March and November concerts: £16, £13, £10, £7 (Students £4) July concerts: Tickets from Chichester Festivities Box Office December concerts: £5 adults, £2 children March and November tickets available from: Chichester Cathedral Bell Tower Shop: 01243 783390 (credit cards accepted) Bastow's Classics, North Street: 01243 533264
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