Chepstow Choral Society has now resumed rehearsals for the remaining concerts in their 2006/2007 programme, after the Christmas break. The Society was delighted with the feedback and response to their Christmas music programme, which was again held two Sundays before Christmas to a virtually capacity audience in St Mary's Church, Chepstow. Thanks are extended to all who attended for what proved to be a wonderful commencement to the Christmas season, and Chepstow Choral Society was once again indebted to St Johns-on-the-Hill School choir who joined them for the occasion, and organist Peter Cook, making a most welcome return to Chepstow. The family carols were sung with great vigour by choir and audience alike, and the choral items and seasonal readings were highly appreciated by everyone present, with general agreement that this is now an occasion which is now very much part of Chepstow's annual Christmas events.
However, the Society has now turned its attention to the next six months, which sees the Society perform two highly contrasting concerts. On Saturday March 31st,, the weekend before Easter, Chepstow Choral Society will present a programme of choral music for Holy Week, which will include the well-known and popular Gloria by Vivaldi. This will contrast with two other choral pieces, both of which are new to the choir. Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and Haydn's Missa Brevis in F are less well known, but are equally appropriate for this concert, and contain a mixture of beautiful and poignant solo and duet movements for soprano and mezzo-soprano soloists, interspersed with both sombre and lively chorus work. Alexandra Carter (soprano) and Caryl Hughes (mezzo-soprano) will make their first appearances in Chepstow. Both of these young soloists are based in London, where they train and study and have already experienced working with well known and highly respected national and international figures in the world of opera, master classes and performances.
On July 14th, Chepstow Choral Society will undertake one of its most ambitious concerts to date, with a full performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah. This will require maximum resources and the Society has already confirmed the soloists for this enormous work. Charlotte Ives (soprano), Sian Menna (alto), Christopher Bowen (tenor) and Edward Price (bass) were quite outstanding when they sang the solo quartet work in the Society's performance of Mozart's Requiem in 2006, and there was no hesitation in asking them to return for Elijah - and much rejoicing at their acceptance! The orchestra will again comprise many young professional instrumentalists drawn from a wide area. Chepstow music lovers can look forward to a wonderful evening, and is to the Society's credit that it is prepared to enter into such a major venture for a relatively small choral society.
The Society's Musical Director, Graham Bull, will direct both these concerts, and the orchestra for each occasion will include many of the players who have so delighted our audiences in recent years, along with welcoming new young players.
The Society is much encouraged by a steady increase in interest, with several new singing members having joined this season, but will continue to welcome more, particularly tenors and basses. Further information about the musical schedule and singing membership may be obtained by contacting the Assistant Musical Director Marjorie Duerden (tel. 01291 623310).
Any Society such as this also needs support, and Chepstow Choral Society is now actively aiming to increase its number of patrons. The quality of music, with performances of major works with professional musicians, cannot be sustained without finance, commitment and determination, and the desire of its townspeople for it to thrive. The Society survives by its own efforts and some welcome support from the Welsh Amateur Music Federation (WAMF), but receives no public funding. We are very grateful for all the help we receive from the local businesses who help us to publicise our concerts, those who are patrons, and also our individual patrons, and thanks must also be extended to Rev. C. Blanchard and the PCC of St Mary's Church for the use of the church for concerts. Additionally, we cannot ignore the fact that without the continuing active support we receive from our audiences, such programmes as are planned for 2007, and which are being discussed for 2008, could not materialise, and as a Society we know that we cannot take anything for granted. Anyone who would like to become an active supporter of the Society may obtain further details from the secretary, Frances Gray (tel. 01291 622465).
Chepstow Choral Society has a deep commitment to maintaining full choral singing in Chepstow, believing that the town and its surrounding area would be all the poorer if this was not available. At the commencement of another year, the Society fervently hopes that this desire continues to be shared by its audience, many of whom attend every concert - and that more people may be encouraged to attend and enjoy live choral music, which is sadly dying in many smaller centres. Chepstow Choral Society looks to 2007 with huge optimism and excitement, and is confident that this will be justified as the year progresses.
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