On Tuesday of 8th week (29th November 2011, 8pm) the Choir of Somerville College will present an end of term concert featuring a selection of favourite anthems. Since Somerville Chapel is still unavailable due to the ongoing asbestos removal work, the concert will take place at St. Giles' Church (right across the road from Somerville's main entrance).

The programme includes choral works by Tippett, Górecki, Ireland, Miškinis and Monteverdi as well as a number of songs and arias/duets performed by members of the choir. The choir and the soloists  will be accompanied by Douglas Knight (organ), Robert Pecksmith (organ) and Orly Watson (piano).

Admission is free; there will be a retiring collection in aid of Somerville Choir's summer tour. Click here to see the Facebook event page for the concert.

UPDATE

A selection of live recordings from the concert has just been added to our YouTube channel:

Vytautas Miškinis: If the day is done - David Crown (conductor)
Michael Wise: Blessed is he that considereth - Douglas Knight (conductor), Robert Pecksmith (organ)

After three days of singing Duruflé's Requiem in the wonderful acoustics of Douai Abbey, we have now recorded all the tracks for our new CD.

The recording will feature internationally acclaimed soloists Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano) and Mark Stone (baritone).  The choir was conducted by David Crown and accompanied by organ scholar Tristan Mitchard. Watch this space for further details about the CD release and the launch concert.

After two days of recording sessions at Somerville Chapel, we have now completed the first ever recording of Robin Milford's Mass for Five Voices. The CD, produced by former choir member James Percival, will be released by Stone Records next year.

We are now off to Douai Abbey, where we will spend three days recording Duruflé's Requiem, the second work to be featured on our debut album.

In preparation for the recording sessions for our first commercial CD, the choir will be giving three performances in Somerset next week:

Wednesday 6 July 2011, 1pm, Wells Cathedral
Lunchtime Concert
Works by Rachmaninov, Pitoni, Farrant and Milford
Free admission

Wednesday 6 July 2011, 6pm, Downside Abbey
Service
Works by Tomkins, Tallis, Hughes, Knights

Thursday 7 July 2011, 7pm, St. Cuthbert's Church, Wells
"Music of 1947"
Robin Milford: Mass for Five voices, op. 84
Maurice Duruflé: Requiem, op. 9
Programme - Facebook Event
Tickets (£8) are available from the Parish Office.

The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford
David Crown, conductor
Tristan Mitchard, organ
Douglas Knight, organ

The Choir and Orchestra of Somerville College present three performances of Bach's choral masterpiece:

5 March 2011, 7:30pm
Steeple Aston Parish Church, Oxfordshire
Tickets cost £10 (students and children £5) and are available from Heather Cleobury, from the Village Shop and on the door. 

9 March 2011, 7:30pm
Somerville College Chapel, Oxford
Tickets are available on the door (suggested donation: £10/£5 students)

11 March 2011, 7:30pm
St Michael at the North Gate, Oxford
Tickets: £10/£5 (students)
Tickets are available on the door and can be booked in advance by emailing David Crown.

Click here to download the programme. The Facebook event page can be found here.

The Choir and Orchestra of Somerville College, Oxford
David Crown, conductor

Soloists:
Paul Smy, tenor (Evangelist); Alistair Ollerenshaw, baritone; Benjamin Thompson, baritone (Jesus); Christoph Schnedermann (Pontius Pilate), Kate Piddington, soprano; Tal Katsir, soprano; Clare Phipps, alto; Ellen Kempston, alto; Andreas Kyrris, tenor; Daniel Reeve, tenor; David Bowe, tenor; Simon Grange, bass (Peter); Amelia Walsh, soprano (Maid)

Choir:
Hannah Blyth, Catherine Borg, Jenni Butler (9/11 March), David Bowe, Katherine Cooper (5 March), Simon Grange, David Hughes, Joshua Jordan, Tal Katsir, Ellen Kempston, Douglas Knight (Junior Organ Scholar), Andreas Kyrris, Amy McCourt, John McElroy, Samantha Miller, Tristan Mitchard (Senior Organ Scholar), Rebecca Nohl, Clare Phipps, Kate Piddington, Christoph Schnedermann, Stefan Schwarz (Choir Manager), Samuel Talalay, Amelia Walsh, Paul Zaba

Orchestra:
Violins: Henry Chandler, Rosie Shakespear
Viola: Louise Bralsford 
Cello: Dan Benn
Oboes: Ben Edmonds, Rachel Becker
Flute: Stephanie Peate
Bassoon: Matt Rattley
Continuo: Douglas Knight, Tristan Mitchard

UPDATE

A live recording of Herr, unser Herrscher, the opening chorus of the St. John Passion, has now been uploaded to the choir's YouTube channel.