Category Archives: Cantabile Girls

2015 Manchester Amateur Choral Competition – Youth Choir coming up

With their January exams behind them and (some) course work under their belts the Cantabile girls are really looking forward to a singing break in Manchester!

To join them on the 22nd February at 10:30 am buy your tickets from the Royal Northern College of Music website – £10 for adults and £5 for concessions (students, under 18s and senior citizens).

We’d love your support and so would the MACC which is working hard to provide a platform for  youth choirs across the country!

You might be interested to know that the goals of the competition are to:

  • Provide a safe and creative outlet for individual and collective musical ability
  • Encourage and promote diversity through the various community choirs taking part and the music performed
  • Encourage more members of the public to participate in choral singing
  • Provide a focus for community engagement in the arts within and without the region
  • Promote the furtherance of individual and collective musical ability
  • Highlight and nurture the talent that exists outside the professional musical world
  • Encourage a professional approach to challenge and endeavour by providing a showcasing opportunity for choirs
  • Highlight Manchester’s continuing energetic role in the encouragement of the arts and as a supporter of community initiatives
  • Encourage members of the public to experience choral music in public settings
  • Provide excellent publicity for both the music-making of amateur choirs but also for all those associated with the competition on the form of funders and sponsors
  • Encourage and support cross-cultural and community networking

Exciting journey to the European Choir Games begins!

Singing for shoppers was the first of Cantabile’s efforts to raise funds so that they could take part in the European Choir Games in Magdeburg in 2015. However practicalities mean they have now set their sights on the 2016 Games so they have more time to raise the funds needed.

On Saturday members of the Choir, with Mrs Williamson, made their own contribution to the Flower Festival and h-art events in Herefordshire to sing for visitors to Hereford’s ‘Independent Quarter’ in Church Street. They also sang in the main square in the afternoon courtesy of Marks and Spencers.

They are looking for sponsors who would be happy to give dedicated and talented young singers the exciting opportunity to participate in a European choral tour and competition. Can you help?

If you want to know more please don’t hesitate to contact Melanie Cuthbert or Jo Williamson through the Hereford Cathedral School or by emailing mjcuth@herefordcs.com.

 

Cantabile didn’t win but we didn’t lose either! As we congratulate our fellow finalists on a hard fought choral battle,  we can be consoled by the truly lovely comments from the Judges  Suzi Digby, Gareth Malone and Laura Mvula that recognised the quality of the singing from the Cantabile girls (and also the beautiful runners up trophy).

Listen to the performances on BBC iplayer and hopefully you will hear both the love and enthusiasm they have for choral singing as well as their technical brilliance which the Judges clearly felt singled them out and provided those ‘Magical Moments’.  Jess Price sang the beautiful solo which anchored their second hymn ‘I Got a Robe’.

Jess Price sings her solo in I Got a Robe in the Final of School Choir of the Year 2014

Jess Price sings her solo in I Got a Robe in the Final of School Choir of the Year 2014

Now the exam season is upon us, their next performance as a Choir will be at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod where they get to show a different repertoire. However choir members Serena Linley-Adams and Charlotte Pawley will also be singing in the Under 18s vocal solo competition this year with Jess Price singing in the 18 and over vocal solo competition.

Cantabile and the 2014 Llangollen Eisteddfod

Cantabile Girls have entered the following classes at the Eisteddfod this year:

  • B2 (Senior Children’s Choir) Wednesday 9th July
  • B3 (Children’s Folk Song Choir) Wednesday 9th July
  • C1 (Voice of the Future) Prelim 10th July, Final 11th July
  • C2 (Under 18′s Vocal Solo) Tuesday 8th July
  • C3 (Over 18′s Vocal Solo) Wednesday 9th July

There is more information about how to attend the Festival and support Cantabile and the other talented singers competing at the official Llangollen International Eisteddfod Festival website.

Cantabile - Llangollen International Festival 2013

Hereford Cathedral School and Friends have organised a stunning performance of Vivaldi Gloria on the 19th March 2014 which includes Mozart Clarinet Concerto and other works. Three of the Cantabile girls will be singing solos in the concert:

  • Soprano: Serena Linley-Adams
  • Mezzo soprano: Jess Price
  • Alto: Charlotte Pawley

More …

The Courtyard hosts ‘Henry V – A Shakespeare Scenario’

Members of Cantabile will be amongst the Chorus of this first for Hereford and the Courtyard.

This will be the first time that Chetham’s School of Music have come to Hereford. The concert, together with the two days of workshops with local schools leading up to it, is a collaboration with The Courtyard and Herefordshire Music Education Hub.

The programme will include the chamber arrangement, by Edward Watson, of William Walton’s Henry V – A Shakepeare Scenario.

Conductor: Stephen Threlfall

Narrator: David Durant

It will also include a world premiere of a new work by a Chetham’s student which was inspired by the text of Henry V. The solo and duo performances will be given by outstanding Chetham’s students.

Local generosity from Claridge Nursing Homes and The Friends of Herefordshire Museum and Arts have provided the funding.