Bollington Festival Choir, resuming rehearsals after the summer break, welcomes those interested in joining, whatever their previous experience. This first rehearsal is an ideal opportunity to sample what the choir has to offer, singing alongside its existing members, before making a commitment.
Bollington Festival Choir is one of several groups that owes its formation to Dr John Coope MBE. As well as inspiring the first Bollington Festival in 1964, he either started, or persuaded others to start, a range of musical, dramatic and artistic endeavours that flourish to this day.
John conducted the Festival Choir for 37 of its 60 years. As one of Bollington’s GPs, John recognised the health benefits, mental and physical, of singing before they became mainstream, and would ask new patients if they sang soprano, alto, tenor or bass. Described by a reviewer as “happy, confident singers, alert to the music”, the Choir continues under the now 22-year tenure of Donald Judge, thanks to its loyal existing members and the regular injection of new singers.
There are NO auditions to join a choir renowned for its friendly, welcoming atmosphere and adventurous music making. Singers of any age and experience from 18 are invited to come along and see what happens at the first rehearsal at the Arts Centre on Tuesday 12 September.
Rehearsals run 19.45 – 21.30 and include a break for tea or coffee and biscuits, and a chance to chat to other members.
Registration and music issue on 12 September will be from 19.30.
For those who decide to join, there’s an annual subscription that can be gift-aided which compares favourably with other such groups. Anyone who decides it isn’t for them will merely have spent an evening in friendly and supportive company – and hopefully, will join the audience for concerts!
The delights in store for the coming season culminate on May 19 with a concert performance of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. This was two weeks from performance in March 2020 when normal life ceased for 18 months. It was to have been part of the 2024 Bollington Festival but will go ahead despite the Festival’s postponement until 2026. The Choir is delighted to be joined by soprano Hrafnhildur Björnsdóttir as Dido, and by Nicola Bright and her string ensemble.
Before then, the November concert features music for the season both secular and sacred, including wintry music by Purcell and a brand new Missa Brevis by Donald Judge based on five ancient and traditional European carols.
In February the Choir will be joined by a wind quintet: the birthday celebration’s wide-ranging repertoire is drawn from the highlights of the previous ten years. The Choir will be accompanied in both those concerts and in
rehearsals by Rosalind Hall.
What is certain is that Bollington Festival Choir will be performing some items no other choir in the world will be, including some world premieres. Also not to be missed to me missed is The Bolly Flyer, a celebration of the railways by Hector Berlioz, with new words by David Ward for the 150 th Anniversary of Bollington’s railway, which the Choir first performed in 2019.
Why not be part of it?
The images show Bollington Festival Choir sketched by Nola McGaul, and photographed at the concert at St Oswald’s in March 2023 by Roger Graham. Collage of conductors Dr John Coope and Donald Judge, soprano soloist Hrafnhildur Björnsdóttir. Dido and Aeneas Meeting by Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland 1735-1811.
Why not visit The Bollington Festival Choir’s website – https://www.bollfestchoir.org.uk
