Choir Session 2008 - 2009
A review of the musical year
This page includes a chronological listing of the events which the choir took part in during the 2008/2009 music session. It also includes a photo slide-show of the year, links to full programmes and videos of concerts and a summary of the Choir's achievements.
The Year in Photos
A Festival of Five Lessons Carols and Mince Pies
18 December 2008
The Holburn West Choir took the leading role at the fourth annual Festival of Five Lessons, Carols and Mince Pies on 18 December 2008. The choir performed six Christmas anthems and lead the congregation in the singing of the Christmas carols. There was no admission charge to the Festival but, instead, the attendees had the opportunity to donate to The Prince's Trust .
The Festival was well attended and over £370 was donated to The Prince's Trust.
For the full programme of the Festival and for a short video clip, please click here.
Jubilate Festival of Music
27 February 2009
On Friday 27th February, Holburn West Church hosted an evening of music put on by three different groups: the Acclamations, the Lyric Music Society and Holburn West Choir. The audience was treated to a most diverse programme ranging from unaccompanied singing of a German Chorale from the 17th century, to a solo rendition of Mack the Knife, and a song from 2007 film and musical Hairspray.
The finale saw all three groups join together to sing a gospel variation of Beethoven's Ode to Joy, made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the blockbuster film Sister Act: 2.
The concert was very well attended and thanks are owed to everyone who performed and helped to organise the event, particularly Miss Verna Ward.
Click here for full programme of and photographs from the concert.
Good Friday
10 April 2009
On Good Friday, Holbun West Choir performed four anthems in a moving service which marked the Crucifixion of Christ. The anthems were The Passion Chorale, Locus Iste by Bruckner, Sunsetand Evening Star by Parry and Surely he hath bourne our griefs? by Handel.
In total, the Choir lead the worship at 28 Sundays this year, performed in two concerts and raised over £370 for charity. We were delighted to welcome three new members to the choir: Mr Ian Gemmell (tenor), Miss Carol McCallum (soprano) and Mrs Irene Shand (alto). The Choir learnt several new anthems, including 3 movements from Charpentier's Messe de Minuit pour Noel and Domine Fili from the Vivaldi Gloria. On top of these new anthems, the Choir re-learnt several anthems from previous sessions which were performed during the course of the year. These included Solus ad Victimam by Kenneth Leighton, All in the April Evening by Roberton, With drooping wings by Purcell, Libera Me by Faure and Christmas Lights by former Director of Music, Mr Robert Howie MA LRAM.
This was a particularly busy year for the Choir and, so, a great number of people must be thanked:
- Mr Norman Bain filmed the Choir at the Christmas Concert for the fourth year in a row
- Mrs Lillian Duncan produced and displayed the concert posters
- Mrs Wendy Linn, Church Secretary, printed all of the programmes for the Choir's concerts and did so without complaint despite her being given only a few days to complete this huge task
- Mrs Isobel Wilson agreed, once again, to be our 'Refreshments Manager' at the Christmas Concert
- Sheriff Principal Douglas Risk QC assisted in various ways in the lead up to the Christmas Concert
- Miss Verna Ward agreed to take on the role of Choir Conductress for both concerts and for many Sundays throughout the year
- The Rev Duncan Eddie, Minister, continued to give myself and the Choir sufficient independence and flexibility to do our own thing with minimal interference
- Finally, thanks are owed to Yvonne Bain, David and Marjorie Kelman, Douglas and Jennifer Risk and Verna Ward for more reasons than constraints of space permit me to articulate.
The Choir Session will re-commence in September 2009.
With profound thanks and best wishes for a great summer,
Dominic Scullion
(Director of Music)