Choral society sing popular works in Bloxham

Mozart’s Requiem and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle will be sung at St Mary’s church in the village on Saturday May 7.

Banbury Choral usually performs at St Mary’s in Banbury, but the church organ will be under repair. The choir will return to Banbury St Mary’s on Saturday July 2 for Faure’s Requiem and Handel’s Coronation Anthems.

Cathedral organist Paul Walton will accompany the choir on organ and harpsichord. Paul is assistant organist of Bristol Cathedral. He accompanies and assists in the training of the cathedral choir and gives regular recitals. Paul also directs the Cathedral Consort and the Cathedral Chamber Choir.

The choir, led by musical director Julian Harris, welcomes back Joe Cummings, who will accompany the choir on the piano for the Rossini piece. Joe graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2015 and has since been doing a masters degree in piano accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music.

Four professional soloists have been booked to sing with the choir – soprano Victoria Savchuk, alto Lorna Perry, tenor Martin Quinn and bass, Aris Nadirian. Martin Quinn, who lives in Banbury, will be well-known to audiences in the area as he also conducts Warriner Choral Society and Akeman Voices.

Tickets cost £12.50 or £5 under 16s. Call 07721 204734 or visit Banbury Tourist Information to book. Tickets will also be available on the door.

Visit www.banburychoralsoc.co.uk for more information about the choir’s full programme of concerts for 2016 and 2017.