Upcoming Concerts
Under the baton of Jonathan Kingston, the choir will perform Mozart ‘Requiem’ and Schubert ‘Mass in G Major’ accompanied by soloists, strings and organ inside the beautiful Grade I listed building, St Mary’s Church, Banbury.
Perfect for a summer’s evening, this concert will be a mix of light and rhythmical music and will include Aaron Copeland’s ‘Old American Songs’ and ‘Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo’ by composer, Joseph Horovitz.
Alongside traditional carols, the programme for the choir’s Christmas concert will include Vaughan Williams ‘Fantasia on Christmas Carols’ and ‘Sunrise Mass’ by composer Ola Gjeilo. A magical evening to start the Christmas festivities.
This will be the final concert conducted by Julian Harris, who was the choir’s conductor since 2011. During this time, he shared his exceptional talent and musicality as a conductor, organist and singer in his own right, and taken the choir on a journey which has brought their choral singing to another level.
Julian commented, “It has been an absolute joy to work with this group for the past 13 years and we have escalated some wonderful choral heights in that time - most notably my first concert with the choir, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius and Verdi’s monumental Requiem. Most importantly, members of the choir weathered the ‘silence’ of the pandemic brilliantly thanks to the incredible work of the committee.
We have come back even stronger and better. And with the marvellous Jonathan Kingston waiting in the wings to pick up the baton, I know the choir is going to go from strength to strength.”
For his finale, Julian has chosen two choral works from the Classical period by highly revered composers, Mozart and Haydn. The pieces Julian has selected are Missa in C Major - ‘Missa Solemnis’ & Nelson Mass.
Under the baton of Jonathan Kingston, the choir will perform these harmonious and moving choral works:
Fauré - ‘Requiem’ and ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’
Rutter - ‘Requiem’
This year will be the 100th Anniversary of Fauré’s death. It is believed that Fauré wrote the ‘Requiem’ as a musical tribute to his father who died in 1885 - three years before starting this composition. It is a prayerful lament to the dead with a peaceful undertone that does not reflect a morbid view of death. Of all the seven sections within the ‘Requiem’, the ‘Agnus Dei’, ‘In Paradisum’ and ‘Pie Jesu’ emerge as the most glorious and filled with rich soulful melodies.
Rutter composed his glorious ‘Requiem’ in 1985. It can be compared to Fauré’s ‘Requiem’ in its simplicity and rich choral writing. It also has seven sections wherein the ‘Pie Jesu’ is the highlight to the piece as is ‘ Requiem Aeternam’ at the start of the choral work. Rutter is one of the most popular composers of the last thirty years and his work is performed regularly all over the world.
The choir will be accompanied on the organ by Charles Matthews as well as strings by professional players and timpani from the Birmingham Conservatoire.
The choir last performed this tremendous choral work in November 2015. Under the baton of Jonathan Kingston, the choir will perform this popular scenic cantata accompanied by Julian Harris and Craig Greene on two pianos and the addition of four percussionists. The choir will be joined by soloists, Angela Kazimierczuk (soprano); Paul Badley (tenor); Philip Smith (Baritone) and the Ragazzi choir will be performed by Warriner School choir under their tutor Dylan McCaig.
Carmina Burana (Songs of Beuern) is a scenic cantata based on 24 Medieval poems and was written by Orff in 1936.. Orff set these poems to music in what he termed a “scenic cantata”. The poems are mostly in Latin, the international language of the day, though some are in old French or Middle High German.
Under the baton of Musical Director, Jonathan Kingston, the choir will perform Britten ‘St Nicolas’ and festive carols to celebrate the lead up to Christmas. The audience will be invited to participate in the congregational carols.
‘St Nicolas’ - the cantata (op.42), was written by Britten for the centenary celebrations at Lancing College in Sussex in 1948.
The choir will be accompanied by piano duet, organ and percussion. The tenor solo will be sung by Paul Badley. The ‘Pickled Boys’ will be sung by boys and girls from the Collegiate Church of St Mary’s, Warwick.
A wonderful start to Christmas in the beautiful acoustics of St Mary’s Church, Banbury.
Banbury Choral Society is delighted to be asked to sing in this concert on behalf of Banbury Rotary who is organising this event in aid of several charities including Katharine House Hospice, Dementia Banbury Group at the RVS, Social Eyes (Banbury Blind Group) and other Rotary Charities.
Banbury Choral Society is very privileged to be taking part in Choral Evensong at St George’s Chapel in July 2023. It will be a special opportunity to sing in a building steeped in history.
St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England and is particularly noted for its magnificent stone fan vaulting. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I.
Banbury Choral last performed ‘The Armed Man’ in March 2004 under the baton of Sue Freestone. This incredible piece of contemporary composition by Karl Jenkins is both haunting and dramatic with sections that will transport the audience to another place. The Benedictus and Sanctus are examples of Karl Jenkins ability to bring true emotion to this Mass for Peace. He dedicated this Mass to the Kosovo conflict and first performed it in 2000 at the Royal Albert Hall.
The choir will also be performing two other pieces: Haydn 'Te Deum' and Elgar 'Give unto the Lord' which will cover a period of almost 200 years from 1800 through to 1999. The Te Deum was written by Haydn to celebrate the arrival of Lord Nelson to the Imperial Palace of Vienna. Elgar wrote his piece for St Paul's Cathedral in April 1914 for the Festival of the Sons of the Clergy.
The choir will be under the baton of their MD Julian Harris and accompanied by their Deputy Musical Director and Accompanist, Jonathan Kingston.
The choir will perform four Coronation Anthems by Handel as well as readings and Christmas music with audience participation. A sparkling celebration of music to highlight the choir’s 80th Anniversary.
With the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II in her Platinum Jubilee Year, Handel’s ‘Coronation Anthems’ will give us a chance to reflect on Her Majesty’s 70 years reigning over our country and the legacy she left behind. May she rest in peace in the knowledge that her son, King Charles III, will rule over us with the same humility, fortitude and kindness that she showed through her life.
Conductor George Parris returns to his home town to lead Banbury Choral Society together with his own professional choir, The Carice Singers, in a special concert celebrating Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 150th Anniversary. The programme will include two choral masterpieces, ‘the Mass in G Minor’ and ‘Serenade to Music’, with each choir also performing a selection of shorter works by Vaughan Williams and his close contemporaries.
Julian Harris, the choir’s Musical Director, will lead Banbury Choral Society in their selection of chosen pieces which will include ‘I was Glad’ by Hubert Parry; ‘At the River’ by Aaron Copeland; and ‘Locus Iste’ by Anton Bruckner.
George Parris, conductor of The Carice Singers, will lead his choir in the following pieces: ‘Silence in Music’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams; ‘Aftonen’ by Hugo Alfuén; and ‘Hymn’ by Ina Boyle.
Banbury Choral Society is delighted to be collaborating with The Carice Singers as part of St Mary’s Church, Banbury 200th Anniversary celebrations.
The choir is also very proud to be celebrating its 80th Anniversary this year following its start during the dark days of World War II in 1942. During this time, the choir has performed numerous concerts in churches and venues across North Oxfordshire and kept singing alive.
The choir looks forward to performing Bach’s moving choral work after having had to postpone this concert back in April 2020 due to the pandemic. We are celebrating our 80th Anniversary this year and this will be a fitting way to begin our season of concerts.
The choir will be accompanied by the St James’ Players, an authentic Baroque ensemble from London under the baton of the choir’s inspiring conductor, Julian Harris. There will also be a line-up of brilliant young soloists, on the verge of their dazzling careers, including the return of Mollie Smith and Chris Willoughby.
The choir will perform a sparkling programme of festive Christmas music including Vivaldi ‘Gloria’, Bob Chilcott ‘The Lily and the Rose’ with readings and an array of carols to celebrate the lead up to Christmas. There will be an opportunity for the audience to join in with the carols.
An uplifting evening of Christmas music to start the festive season to include Handel’s Coronation Anthems that he wrote in 1727 for the Coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline.
The choir will also sing carols with some audience participation!
Banbury Choral Society will be performing a shortened version of Elijah in St Mary’s Church, Banbury accompanied by the highly accomplished organist, Charles Matthews. They will be conducted by Julian Harris and the soloists will be Eva Gheorghui, soprano; Lorna Perry, alto; Martin Quinn, tenor; and Jack Holton, bass.
The first performance of Elijah took place in Birmingham Town Hall on 26th August 1846 and was received with rapturous applause leading to several encores. Mendelssohn had taken several years to bring this oratorio to a listening audience. However, it was to be his last major work before he died from failing health in November 1847.
The choir, once again, will be accompanied by the Oxford Sinfonia who is in great demand across the region. The choir will be led by their Musical Director, Julian Harris.
Soloists Mollie Smith, soprano; Charlotte Collier, soprano and Christopher Willoughby, tenor will be making another welcome return visit to sing with the choir after their superb performances at the choir’s last concert in April. They will be joined by Patrick Keefe, bass, who will be singing with the choir for the first time.
It is with great thanks to SS Peter & Paul Church in Deddington that it is providing the perfect venue for a Summer’s evening of Baroque music. The concert will include some typically lively as well as moving choral pieces by Vivaldi and Purcell. The programme will include:
Vivaldi Magnificat
Purcell O Sing Unto the Lord
Purcell Rejoice in the Lord
Purcell Te Deum and Jubilate
In addition to the choir’s programme, Simon Lenton will perform a trumpet solo, Clarke Suite in D major for trumpet. Simon is best known as leader of the highly acclaimed Fine Arts Brass Ensemble. His first solo CD, ‘Music for a Perfect Day’, was hailed by BBC Music Magazine as “stunning virtuosity” for his performance alongside organist Kevin Bowyer.
Banbury Choral Society under the baton of their Conductor, Julian Harris, will perform a varied programme from Mozart's finest choral works including:
Coronation Mass
Solemn Vespers
Ave Verum
Exultate Jubilate
The Soloists are Mollie Smith (Soprano), Charlotte Collier (Soprano) and Christopher Willoughby (Tenor). The choir will be accompanied by the Oxford Sinfonia.
A sparkling programme of choral favourites to begin the Christmas festivities. The choir will be accompanied by orchestra and led by Musical Director, Julian Harris. The programme will include:
In our second concert of the year, the choir will be performing an entertaining programme of choral music in the beautiful building of St Mary's Church, Banbury. Under the baton of Julian Harris, the choir will be accompanied on the grand piano and will perform the following pieces:
Ravel The Mother Goose Suite will also be performed by two pianists as part of the programme.
The choir, led by Musical Director, Julian Harris, will perform Stainer's Crucifixion and Handel's Messiah Part iii including The Hallelujah Chorus as an encore. The choir will be accompanied on the organ in the wonderful venue, St Mary's Church Banbury.
