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An evening of glorious, uplifting solos, duets and rousing choruses from many much loved famous operas. The South Devon Choir is joined by some of its favourite, nationally acclaimed soloists. The evening is conducted by Simon Dunbavand with accompanist Matt Davies.
Our Rossini Concert
Our banner is displayed; the choir is ready; the soloists are ready, the piano duo are ready, the harmonium player is ready and Simon, our conductor, is ready. Are you ready to join us at St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay to enjoy Rossini’s masterpiece? Lots of interest already so please don’t leave it to the last minute to book your tickets.
You can book your tickets here
Our next concert…
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Tickets are available online here. You can also buy tickets from choir members or on the door.
New Year with Signor Rossini
Thursday (11 Jan 2024) was our first rehearsal of the new year. It was lovely to see not only familiar faces but new ones too. We are learning Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. Everyone was in good spirits and good voice. If you know the mass you’ll know it it is neither petite or solennelle but a work full of lively choruses and arias which I’m sure an enterprising opera company could turn into a staged opera. It’s almost long enough to be an opera! Whether you know the work or not but love singing then come and join us.
Only 9 hours to go to 2024…
South Devon Choir wish all choirs and singers around the world a very Happy New Year. May the power of music bring us all joy, happiness and ever closer together. We have had a wonderful 2022- 2023 season from singing Haydn’s The Creation, Jenkins’ The Armed Man, Faure Requiem to our carol concert with the audience thoroughly enjoying our traditional singing of Schneewalzer which you can watch here https://youtu.be/dARqgN4c4U0. If you love singing… come and join us. Happy New Year Everyone.
Our choir sing at Exeter Cathedral
Members of South Devon Choir were thrilled to be invited to perform at Exeter Cathedral for this year’s Festival of Remembrance, organised by the Royal British Legion, Devon.
The festival included a short concert featuring the choir as well as music by service bands, followed by the traditional Act of Remembrance and a procession of the many flags and standards of the British Legion, service associations and cadets.
“We were delighted to be able to take part in this important commemoratioin of the servoce and sadly the sacrifice of the many people who have taken part in past battles”, said Jill Stevens, Chair of the choir.
“The opportunity to perform in our county’s cathedral does not come very often. And this year’s event was particularly moving, as it was the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war.”
The choir sang a mixture of classical choral items by Faure, Mozart and Handel – many of them items already in rehearsal for their coming concert, Crown & Glory, being performed at St Matthias’ Church, Torquay on 26 November.
Jill said, “We were so pleased that we had a number of suitable pieces already prepared, such as the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and ‘Zadok the Priest’ – and then, to sing them in that wonderfuf setting, with its fabulous organ and acoustics, was the icing on the cake!”
The choir is continuing to rehearse for their concert on 26 November, when they will be singing Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass’ and some of Handel’s most loved choruses and arias, with professisonal soloists and a full orchestra.
Details of the concert and how to buy tickets can be found here.
How we helped our local NHS
with the BIG cheque
You’ll be delighted to know that, thanks to our workshop and performance of Fauré’s ‘Requiem’ back in June, we were recently able to present a cheque for no less than £1000 to the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. This was far more than the £600+ that we raised on the day, thanks to some very generous donations that came in later.
Our three officers – Jill (Chair), Prim (Treasurer) and Lisa (Secretary) – met with the Trust’s Chief Executive Liz Davenport to make the presentation. And the cheque was an appropriately large one to match the funds raised by everyone.
The fund-raising event was planned as a memorial to those affected by and lost in the covid pandemic. The funds raised were to thank the dedicated local health workers for their care and commitment during that time, and to support their work in the local community.
Liz Davenport said: “I would like to thank the South Devon Choir and everyone who supported their ‘come and sing’ performance for their generosity and kindness.” She added: “Support from local people means so
much to our organisation, and this donation highlights the compassion and support that our local communities provide.”
Our donation will go to the Trust’s Charitable Fund, and our Committee will work with the Trust on how the money will be used.
Jill said, “I’d like to thank all those who took part, as singers or supporters, not only in making the day such a memorable occasion but also in enabling us to make this gift to our local NHS.”
A Ceremony of Psalms Workshop
A busy day of singing with composer, Paul Drayton, who taught us, coaxed us and drilled us in how to sing his beautiful and dramatic work, A Ceremony of Psalms, accompanied by Simon Dunbavand on the organ. A day full of amusement and lots of concentration on rhythm, articulation and dynamics.
Simon was taking notes as well as playing them.
Our choir mascot, Timmy, enjoyed the day and the music. See those musical ears?
To hear the work please come to our concert on 21 May 2022 at St Matthias Church, Babbacombe Road, Torquay. Tickets are now available from this link
SOUTH DEVON CHOIR 