A BOROUGH music group will perform a concert to support a children’s hospice, and an Earley church.
An afternoon of music performed by Cantemus Chamber Choir will raise funds for Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, and for Earley St Peter’s Church.
The concert, Songs For All Seasons, will include a selection of sacred and lighter music, for which Cantemus will be joined by St Peter’s Song School.
Singing some pieces alone, the school will join Cantemus for Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer with choristers Kelisha and Presencia taking the solos.
The song school’s contribution will also include Quem Dicunt Homines, written for St Peter’s in 2025 by Reading composer, Edward Nesbit.
The audience will also be able to enjoy music by Elgar,Rutter, and Vaughan Williams.
The main work in the programme will be Joanna Forbes’s l’Estrange’s choral re-imagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, whose recent premiere received critical acclaim.
Newbury based Cantemus Chamber Choir performs a wide variety of sacred and secular music, ranging from the Renaissance to the present day, raising funds for good causes, as well as occasionally deputising for UK cathedral choirs.
Mary Westley, music teacher and the choir’s director, studied music at Reading, is an organist at Mapledurham Church, and conducts and accompanies in the Reading area.
Accompanist (and singer) Ian Westley also studied music at Reading University, leads classes and choral workshops in Reading area, and directs the Vivace Voices and Erleigh Cantors choirs.
Earley St Peter’s Song School, supported this year by the Cathedral Music Trust, is made up of nine children from the local area.
The youngsters rehearse weekly under the overall direction of Ben de Souza, and sing several services a term with the adult choir.
Their concert director and teacher is Royal Academy of Music undergraduate vocal student Lizzy Cullen.
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Berkshire.
The event will take place at Earley St Peter’s Church, on Saturday, February 28, from 3pm until 5pm.
Entry is by suggested donation of £10 for adults, or £8 for students, with under 18s free.
For tickets or more information contact Maggie Nunn on 07946 620560, or email:maggie.nunn@btinternet.com.
To find out more, visit: alexanderdevine.org, earleystpeters.org.uk, or search for Cantemus, Newbury on Facebook.
