Music

The music to be sung at the Festival in April is chosen by a Music Committee chaired by Jonathan Willcocks. Each group of four choirs prepares a different set of music in the five main classes:

Competitions:

Each choir will present an ‘own-choice’ recital (max. 20 mins), to include:

i. A piece with accompaniment

ii. A piece sung unaccompanied (a cappella)

iii. A piece written by a living composer

iv. Excerpt(s) from the major work(s) being performed in the evening concert, which will be announced to choirs two weeks before the Festival.

Ensemble Competition:

              As a ‘prelude’ to the Competitions, there will be an optional Ensemble Competition where groups of between 4-12 singers will perform a single unaccompanied piece, selected by the Music Committee. Choirs may enter as many groups as they wish.

At the traditional March concert all those choir members who want to take part (and a growing number of independent singers) perform in rotation Bach's St Matthew or Handel's Messiah.

This year Handel's Messiah.