Youth Messiah at Huddersfield
Wed, 15 Mar 2017 10:44:00 GMT
Over 100 young performed highlights from that centrepiece of the choral repertoire – Handel’s Messiah
Singers from around Kirklees and their parents and friends converged on the University’s St Paul’s Hall on Saturday 11 March for an evening of singing.
It’s a unique event and is the idea of the brainchild of Barbara Lawson, Judi Sims and James Morgan, who wanted to give young singers the opportunity to sing what most adult choristers – amateur or professional – consider to be part of the standard repertoire.
“Handel’s Messiah is one of the greatest choral works ever written; what better way to challenge and inspire young singers than by offering them a unique opportunity to experience this amazing work.” Barbara Lawson, former Music Adviser, Kirklees.
Under the baton of James Morgan, the young singers – some as young as 8 - tackled many of the most popular choruses from Handel’s masterpiece, including the iconic ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. But they weren’t on their own – they were be joined by The Mastersingers (of which James and Judi are members), and a chamber orchestra of local instrumentalists, including Geoffrey Lockwood on harpsichord continuo and young Holmfirth trumpeter James Diffley, a student from Greenhead College, Huddersfield.
The trio of entrepreneurs have recruited the University of Huddersfield Chamber Choir, Huddersfield Choral Society Youth Choir, The Lindley Choir, and Colne Valley Boys. The University ensemble provides the four soloists to sing some of the most familiar arias from the oratorio – they are Sophie Cameron (soprano), Charlotte Collier (mezzo soprano), Sean Brines (tenor) and Charlie Murray (bass).
“The University’s Department of Music is very keen to work with other young musicians in Kirklees, so this is a perfect opportunity for us to welcome young local singers to our concert hall in St Paul's and for the students in the University Chamber Choir to sing alongside them and the more experienced members of The Mastersingers. It also gives four of our outstanding vocal students the chance to perform some of the solo arias. There's such a strong tradition of performing Messiah in Huddersfield - hopefully this collaboration will get the next generations of singers engaged in the very special spirit of Handel's masterpiece.” John Bryan, the University’s Chamber Choir’s conductor
All the participating choirs were invited to sing a couple of their favourite pieces as part of the evening’s programme.
Proceeds from the event went to Holmfirth Arts Festival to be put towards a music event in a future festival.
