Classical spectacular to showcase top musicians

Halle Brass and the Tatton Singers to perform this summer

INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed musicians are to perform in a classical spectacular taking place over three days as part of the second annual Knutsford Music Festival. The event, which is being organised by Knutsford Town Council in partnership with local venues, will see performances by Vale Royal String Orchestra, Tatton Singers, Hallé Brass and Royal Northern College of Music’s Zerbina Duo. The concerts will be held throughout the town centre, with Vale Royal String Orchestra playing at St Cross Church on June 22, Tatton Singers on stage at St John’s Church on June 23 and Hallé Brass and the Zerbina Duo at The Courthouse’s new function room on June 24. The concerts are part of a wider, weekend-long celebration of music in Knutsford between June 22 and 24, with the St Cross and St John's concerts being organised by the churches and musicians, and the Courthouse concert being organised by the town council. Sarah Morgan, deputy town clerk, said: “We’re really looking forward to presenting this diverse range of classical concerts. “These performers are among the most respected in the north west and in the case of the Hallé they are internationally-acclaimed. “For many, it will be their first opportunity to see The Courthouse’s beautiful and newly-refurbished function room, and we’re delighted to again be working with Knutsford’s churches and their cherished community spaces. “St Cross and St John’s have been instrumental in helping us put together this programme of classical concerts by organising their own events, and I would like to thank them for their contribution to the festival.” Vale Royal String Orchestra with oboist Debbie Fuller will perform an eclectic programme including Cimarosa's oboe concerto, a Divertimento by Mozart, Percy Grainger's Molly on the Shore, Janacek's Idyll Suite and a selection from Copland's ballet score, Rodeo. The orchestra, which formed in 1993 and is conducted by Richard Adamson, brings together experienced amateur and professional musicians who perform regularly throughout the year to support charities and community events. Tatton Singers formed in 1976 in Knutsford. Their 78 members perform traditional choral works and lesser known pieces. Under the guidance of musical director John Powell, who has been with the choir since 2005, Tatton Singers have a wide repertoire of works by classical composers. Formed in 1965, Hallé Brass are one of the foremost brass ensembles in the UK formed primarily from principal members of the internationally renowned Hallé Orchestra. The group is also one of the oldest brass quintets in the world that played a leading role in the development of this format of chamber music. In the early years, Hallé Brass gave premieres by eminent composers such as John McCabe, Joseph Horovitz and Edward Gregson. They will be joined by harpist Becki McIlroy and violinist Rebecca Howell, who are known as the Zerbina Duo. Becki is a music graduate from The University of Manchester, currently studying for her master’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music. Recently she performed with the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra alongside comedians Jason Manford and John Bishop at The Bridgewater Hall. Rebecca is a postgraduate student at the Royal Northern College of Music. In March 2016, Rebecca, who also leads the Florestan String Quartet, was awarded first prize in Durham’s inaugural Soloists Competition and went on to perform Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No 3 with the University Palatine Orchestra on their summer tour to Paris. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, March 1, and will be priced at £12 with concessions available. Tickets for the Halle Brass and Tatton Singers will be available through Ticket Tailor, and the Tatton Singers tickets can also be purchased from 01565 650641. For all other ticket enquiries call Knutsford Town Council on 01565 653929 and follow the Knutsford Music Festival Facebook for ticket and event updates.(Knutsford Guardian, March 2018).

Tatton Singers musical director looks forward to 'Everest' performance of Bach's B Minor Mass

John Powell has chosen the piece for the 40th anniversary to engage the choir in such a special occasion. TATTON Singers is gearing up for its ‘biggest performance’ yet as the group take on its most challenging repertoire to date. The group will perform Bach’s notoriously difficult mass in B Minor as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, which will also include a number of concerts throughout 2016. To take place on Sunday November 21 at 7pm at the recently refurbished hall at St John’s Church, with accompaniment from the Northern Baroque Sinfonia. Under musical director, John Powell, Tatton Singers has been rehearsing the mass since February, and the former head of choral music at Chetham’s School of Music is confident that this will be the best concert to date. “It is extremely difficult,” he said. “It is top of the pile in terms of excitement and how challenging it is. “I wanted to do something that the choir had never done before. I wanted to really engage the choir and get their attention and make them feel it is incredibly special. “I also wanted to do a work in which the choir had a very large part to play; in some works they can be dominated by soloists.” John explained that the choir has been able to prepare for such a technical piece thanks to the dedication of all of its members, who have regularly been practising in their own time to ensure success. He said: “It is certainly an Everest, a project not to be undertaken lightly, nor without sufficient time in preparation. “It is a very difficult piece to perform, stretching all to their technical limits and it is a piece that requires a very high degree of commitment; the reward is a remarkable sense of emotional and intellectual satisfaction.” “I joined the choir in 2005 and I wouldn’t have dreamt of doing anything like that then. But it has grown in size and ability. There was only 50 or 55 members when I started and now, more than 70. “We are looking forward to performing in St John’s Church, it is bright and cheerful and invitingly beautiful so it is a very attractive place to spend the evening.” As well as the concert next Sunday, the Tatton Singers also plans to perform a number of concerts in the new year, including Mozart’s Requiem. Tony Wood, chairman of the choir, has described the concert as ‘the absolute highlight of the Tatton Singers’ career to date.’ Tickets are priced at £12 and £5 for students, which includes a glass of wine or soft drink after the concert (Knutsford Guardian, November 2015).

Tatton Singers celebrate 40th anniversary with most challenging programme yet

FOR forty years a group of dedicated and talented singers have entertained people across the region, generating a huge amount of support from Knutsford residents. September 2015 marks the beginning of the Tatton Singers 40th anniversary and the choir are gearing up to celebrate with their most challenging programme yet. Tony Wood, chairman of the Tatton Singers, has revealed that under musical director, John Powell the group are set to perform one of history’s most demanding choral works, Bach’s B Minor Mass. The mass will be complete with professional soloists and a baroque orchestra. Tony said: “The concert is going to be huge. It’s because of John’s direction that we are able to perform the mass. “It is a major work for a non professional choir to undertake, but I can assure you our musical director would not let us undertake it if he didn't think we would put in a good performance. The choir, which started with six members in 1976, now boasts 80 musically talented individuals who commit at least three hours a week to practising together. “Over the last 40 years the Tatton Singers group has grown dramatically,” said Tony. “I remember when we used to do our summer concerts in the Heritage Centre, which was fantastic. “But now we average audiences of 250 to 300 people so we can’t all fit in. We really get a great deal of support from the Knutsford people. “On top of that we always have the Mayor of Cheshire East and the Mayor of Knutsford attending our concerts, which is so encouraging. It’s is very beneficial to have them there. Performing four concerts a year, the Tatton Singers attract people from across the north west and in the choir’s forty years, members have performed at venues including the Royal Northern College of Music and enjoyed collaborations with renowned musicians. Having gained momentum over the last four decades, the choir now welcomes musicians from a range of backgrounds and of different ages. Tony said: “The average age of the choir has dropped quite dramatically. But this isn’t a bad thing. We like to encourage younger up and coming soloists (Knutsford Guardian, August 2015)