Tours
India Tour 2018
Performances
Wednesday 12th December 2018
Workshops with Songbound
Thursday 13th December 2018, 7pm
National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai
Choral Concert
Friday 14th December 2018, 7pm
Mehboob Studios, Mumbai
Opening concert for the Times LitFest
Saturday 15th December 2018, 6:30pm
St Francis of Assisi, Old Goa
Concert with the choirs of Goa Institute of Management and Goa University
Wednesday 12th December 2018
Workshops with Songbound
Thursday 13th December 2018, 7pm
National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai
Choral Concert
Friday 14th December 2018, 7pm
Mehboob Studios, Mumbai
Opening concert for the Times LitFest
Saturday 15th December 2018, 6:30pm
St Francis of Assisi, Old Goa
Concert with the choirs of Goa Institute of Management and Goa University
Director of Chapel Music Will Dawes writes about the choir’s tour to India:
From the moment I was recruited to be Director of Chapel Music at Somerville, I knew that I wanted to deliver a trip to India. We have such strong connections there through our past (Cornelia Sorabji, the pioneering Indian law student at Oxford, and Indira Gandhi are both alumni) and our present (we host the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development), so I wanted to do my bit for the future. And so it was that on Monday 10th December, 30 singers, and 2 organ scholars set off from Heathrow to begin a trip that would take in Mumbai and Goa, and see us giving concerts, working with hugely talented yet underprivileged local children, and absorbing Indian culture.
It may have been the lack of sleep on the plane, but the atmosphere on our journey from Mumbai airport to our hotel was distinctly quiet, with the group taking in the sights and sounds of this densely populated mega city. From the bikes weaving skilfully between cars and trucks, to the elegant Haji Ali mosque surrounded by water, a vast outdoor laundry and the bright posters everywhere in Roman and Devanagari script, there were reminders everywhere that this was a city that mingled millions of people, of different faiths and cultures, living in close proximity. For one day, we were tourists, visiting the 6th-century Elephanta caves. This was on our first morning in Mumbai and our guide was truly brilliant at showing us round the caves, which mostly consist of monuments and iconography dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, all carved out of the basalt rock. We also encountered some extremely cheeky monkeys – one of which pinched a bottle of soda from the group!
From a musical point of view, we gave three concerts in three very different venues: The first was in the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai: in a 1000-seat performance space featuring a pipe organ – one of only a handful in India.
We were advised that bringing a concert of British Christmas choral fare would go down well, so there was music for the season associated with Oxford; King’s College, Cambridge; and the wider UK choral tradition. About 75 % of the programme had never been performed in India, despite being hugely familiar in the UK. We had some challenging and contemporary pieces to start with, but eventually branched out into real Christmas favourites such as The Twelve Days of Christmas, Ding dong! merrily on high and Away in a Manger. These all went down a treat, with plenty of whoops and cheers – and not just from the large numbers of Somerville Alumni and supporters present!
The second concert was at the Mehboob studios, in a barn of a Bollywood film studio which could well have been an aircraft hangar. After a concert of music on the theme of water (including works by Palestrina, Holst, and arrangements by several former Kings Singers), we were able to enjoy the sounds of traditional Indian instruments such as the tabla and santoor, the latter an Asian dulcimer, playing alongside a Western jazz trio in the open air – an intoxicating affair, especially when mixed in with the history of the studios, the glamour of the occasion, and the continual hum and beeps of the Mumbai evening traffic in the distance.
After travelling to Goa, the third concert was performed in the 17th-century Church of St Francis of Assisi, a building of warm pink stone beautiful enough to move a non-believer. There was no electricity, it was swelteringly hot, and we had several animal friends join us both physically and vocally during the concert, including pigeons, bats, dogs, and a rat that ran straight through the choir whilst we were singing. Coupled with the colour of the lights, and the glorious stonework the sound of the music was sublime. For all the prestige of NCPA, and the pizzazz of the Mehboob, hearing choral music in that church in Goa was deeply moving – choral music needs that echo going around, making the building a member of the choir.
The undoubted highlights of the trip were our workshops with the charities Songbound and the Karta Initiative. The latter was a cross-college effort with choir, tutors, and principal all combining to give 30 bright and personable 16-17 year olds a morning interacting with members of the University. We were struck by just how thoughtful and down-to-earth they were, and felt very moved by their 7 hour bus journey to arrive for a 10:30 AM event. The sessions that we had with the children from Songbound – which uses music to make a difference to the lives of some of India’s poorest children – will live long in the memory.
We spent an hour in each session teaching them songs, learning from them, sensing their great joy at making music when the rest of their days were known to be troubling. At the end of each session, after teaching them Frère Jacques we sang a few songs for them. It was moving to see how the children felt a connection with the members of the College Choir whom they had been standing next to, and they showed their appreciation afterwards with lots of clapping. They didn’t sing along – they listened, rapt and engaged. There is much to take from this experience – a real college collaboration. Music is a powerful tool and it was a great pleasure for us to sing to and work with so many people from so many different backgrounds, all of whom seemed to enjoy the experience a great deal.
It was a pleasure for us to be part of such an extraordinary trip and to be able to act as ambassadors for both the College and wider University. As a college choir, we have arrived back with those memories and experiences firmly in our thoughts. The trip reminded us that Somerville is part of a global community, with alumni and well-wishers all around the world. Through the shared enjoyment of music, I hope that we strengthened the ties between Somerville and our friends in India.
I’m thrilled that we’re already considering the next tour. More on that soon…
From the moment I was recruited to be Director of Chapel Music at Somerville, I knew that I wanted to deliver a trip to India. We have such strong connections there through our past (Cornelia Sorabji, the pioneering Indian law student at Oxford, and Indira Gandhi are both alumni) and our present (we host the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development), so I wanted to do my bit for the future. And so it was that on Monday 10th December, 30 singers, and 2 organ scholars set off from Heathrow to begin a trip that would take in Mumbai and Goa, and see us giving concerts, working with hugely talented yet underprivileged local children, and absorbing Indian culture.
It may have been the lack of sleep on the plane, but the atmosphere on our journey from Mumbai airport to our hotel was distinctly quiet, with the group taking in the sights and sounds of this densely populated mega city. From the bikes weaving skilfully between cars and trucks, to the elegant Haji Ali mosque surrounded by water, a vast outdoor laundry and the bright posters everywhere in Roman and Devanagari script, there were reminders everywhere that this was a city that mingled millions of people, of different faiths and cultures, living in close proximity. For one day, we were tourists, visiting the 6th-century Elephanta caves. This was on our first morning in Mumbai and our guide was truly brilliant at showing us round the caves, which mostly consist of monuments and iconography dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, all carved out of the basalt rock. We also encountered some extremely cheeky monkeys – one of which pinched a bottle of soda from the group!
From a musical point of view, we gave three concerts in three very different venues: The first was in the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai: in a 1000-seat performance space featuring a pipe organ – one of only a handful in India.
We were advised that bringing a concert of British Christmas choral fare would go down well, so there was music for the season associated with Oxford; King’s College, Cambridge; and the wider UK choral tradition. About 75 % of the programme had never been performed in India, despite being hugely familiar in the UK. We had some challenging and contemporary pieces to start with, but eventually branched out into real Christmas favourites such as The Twelve Days of Christmas, Ding dong! merrily on high and Away in a Manger. These all went down a treat, with plenty of whoops and cheers – and not just from the large numbers of Somerville Alumni and supporters present!
The second concert was at the Mehboob studios, in a barn of a Bollywood film studio which could well have been an aircraft hangar. After a concert of music on the theme of water (including works by Palestrina, Holst, and arrangements by several former Kings Singers), we were able to enjoy the sounds of traditional Indian instruments such as the tabla and santoor, the latter an Asian dulcimer, playing alongside a Western jazz trio in the open air – an intoxicating affair, especially when mixed in with the history of the studios, the glamour of the occasion, and the continual hum and beeps of the Mumbai evening traffic in the distance.
After travelling to Goa, the third concert was performed in the 17th-century Church of St Francis of Assisi, a building of warm pink stone beautiful enough to move a non-believer. There was no electricity, it was swelteringly hot, and we had several animal friends join us both physically and vocally during the concert, including pigeons, bats, dogs, and a rat that ran straight through the choir whilst we were singing. Coupled with the colour of the lights, and the glorious stonework the sound of the music was sublime. For all the prestige of NCPA, and the pizzazz of the Mehboob, hearing choral music in that church in Goa was deeply moving – choral music needs that echo going around, making the building a member of the choir.
The undoubted highlights of the trip were our workshops with the charities Songbound and the Karta Initiative. The latter was a cross-college effort with choir, tutors, and principal all combining to give 30 bright and personable 16-17 year olds a morning interacting with members of the University. We were struck by just how thoughtful and down-to-earth they were, and felt very moved by their 7 hour bus journey to arrive for a 10:30 AM event. The sessions that we had with the children from Songbound – which uses music to make a difference to the lives of some of India’s poorest children – will live long in the memory.
We spent an hour in each session teaching them songs, learning from them, sensing their great joy at making music when the rest of their days were known to be troubling. At the end of each session, after teaching them Frère Jacques we sang a few songs for them. It was moving to see how the children felt a connection with the members of the College Choir whom they had been standing next to, and they showed their appreciation afterwards with lots of clapping. They didn’t sing along – they listened, rapt and engaged. There is much to take from this experience – a real college collaboration. Music is a powerful tool and it was a great pleasure for us to sing to and work with so many people from so many different backgrounds, all of whom seemed to enjoy the experience a great deal.
It was a pleasure for us to be part of such an extraordinary trip and to be able to act as ambassadors for both the College and wider University. As a college choir, we have arrived back with those memories and experiences firmly in our thoughts. The trip reminded us that Somerville is part of a global community, with alumni and well-wishers all around the world. Through the shared enjoyment of music, I hope that we strengthened the ties between Somerville and our friends in India.
I’m thrilled that we’re already considering the next tour. More on that soon…
USA Tour 2016
Thanks to the generosity of our friends and supporters, the Choir of Somerville College will be embarking on a second tour to the USA in summer 2016.
Performances
Monday 29th August 2016, 1pm
Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City
Choral Concert
Thursday 1st September 2016, 7:30pm
St. Joseph’s Church, Yorkville, New York City
Choral Concert
Saturday 3rd September 2016, 7pm
Christ Church, Greenwich, Connecticut
Choral Concert
Sunday 4th September 2016, 11am
St. Ignatius Loyola, Manhattan, New York City
Sung Service
Sunday 4th September 2016, 6pm
Grace Church, Manhattan, New York City
Sung Service
Wednesday 7th September 2016, 7pm
Memorial Baptist Church, Arlington, Virginia
Choral Concert
Performances
Monday 29th August 2016, 1pm
Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City
Choral Concert
Thursday 1st September 2016, 7:30pm
St. Joseph’s Church, Yorkville, New York City
Choral Concert
Saturday 3rd September 2016, 7pm
Christ Church, Greenwich, Connecticut
Choral Concert
Sunday 4th September 2016, 11am
St. Ignatius Loyola, Manhattan, New York City
Sung Service
Sunday 4th September 2016, 6pm
Grace Church, Manhattan, New York City
Sung Service
Wednesday 7th September 2016, 7pm
Memorial Baptist Church, Arlington, Virginia
Choral Concert
USA Tour 2014
Thanks to the generous support of Somerville College and our friends, the choir is going to undertake its most ambitious tour so far. We will be singing concerts and services in Washington D.C., Delaware and Massachusetts. Please see below for further details and full programmes.
Performances
Tuesday 1st July 2014, 5:30pm
Washington National Cathedral, Washington D.C.
Choral Evensong
Plainsong Responses; Stainer/Beethoven: Psalm 143; Wood: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D; Wood: Expectans expectavi; Leighton: Paean (Organ Voluntary)
Facebook Event
Wednesday 2nd July 2014, 7:30pm
National City Christian Church, Washington D.C.
Music from the Dreaming Spires
Programme - Poster - Facebook Event
Thursday 3rd July 2014, 7:30pm
Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Wilmington, Delaware
"Long Live the King!" - A Very British Independence Day Concert
Programme - Poster - Facebook Event
Saturday 5th July 2014, 7pm
St. John's Episcopal Church, Northampton, Massachusetts
"Long Live the King!" - A Very British Independence Day Concert
Programme - Poster - Facebook Event
Sunday 6th July 2014, 9:45am
Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts
Choral Prelude and Holy Eucharist
Music by Somervell, Howells, Wood, Carter, Stanford, Wood, Byrd and Buxtehude
Facebook Event
Sunday 6th July 2014, 6pm
Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, Massachusetts
Recital on the Historic Hook & Hastings Organ (1875)
Robert Pecksmith (organ)
Works by Bach, Wesley, Howells, Williams, Reger, Vierne, Elgar, Walton and Sousa
Facebook Event
Tour Personnel
Conductor: David Crown
Organist: Robert Pecksmith
Tour Manager: Stefan Schwarz
Soprano: Ruth Akinradewo, Elizabeth McMillan, Rebecca Nohl, Joanna Perkins, Megan Thomas, Alexandra Worrell
Alto: Katie Jeffries-Harris, Eleanor Makower, Isabel Sinagola, Orly Watson
Tenor: James Aldred, Antony Beere, Ian Buchanan, Robert Tilson
Bass: Oliver Johnston-Watt, Matthew Kerr, Nathan Mattock, Robert Pecksmith, Christoph Schnedermann, Stefan Schwarz
Performances
Tuesday 1st July 2014, 5:30pm
Washington National Cathedral, Washington D.C.
Choral Evensong
Plainsong Responses; Stainer/Beethoven: Psalm 143; Wood: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D; Wood: Expectans expectavi; Leighton: Paean (Organ Voluntary)
Facebook Event
Wednesday 2nd July 2014, 7:30pm
National City Christian Church, Washington D.C.
Music from the Dreaming Spires
Programme - Poster - Facebook Event
Thursday 3rd July 2014, 7:30pm
Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Wilmington, Delaware
"Long Live the King!" - A Very British Independence Day Concert
Programme - Poster - Facebook Event
Saturday 5th July 2014, 7pm
St. John's Episcopal Church, Northampton, Massachusetts
"Long Live the King!" - A Very British Independence Day Concert
Programme - Poster - Facebook Event
Sunday 6th July 2014, 9:45am
Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts
Choral Prelude and Holy Eucharist
Music by Somervell, Howells, Wood, Carter, Stanford, Wood, Byrd and Buxtehude
Facebook Event
Sunday 6th July 2014, 6pm
Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, Massachusetts
Recital on the Historic Hook & Hastings Organ (1875)
Robert Pecksmith (organ)
Works by Bach, Wesley, Howells, Williams, Reger, Vierne, Elgar, Walton and Sousa
Facebook Event
Tour Personnel
Conductor: David Crown
Organist: Robert Pecksmith
Tour Manager: Stefan Schwarz
Soprano: Ruth Akinradewo, Elizabeth McMillan, Rebecca Nohl, Joanna Perkins, Megan Thomas, Alexandra Worrell
Alto: Katie Jeffries-Harris, Eleanor Makower, Isabel Sinagola, Orly Watson
Tenor: James Aldred, Antony Beere, Ian Buchanan, Robert Tilson
Bass: Oliver Johnston-Watt, Matthew Kerr, Nathan Mattock, Robert Pecksmith, Christoph Schnedermann, Stefan Schwarz
Italy Tour 2010
Performances
Saturday 26th June 2010, 9pm
Chiesa di San Bernardino, Crema
Evening Concert
Sunday 27th June 2010, 12pm
Basilica di San Marco, Milan
Mass
Works by Palestrina, Mathias, Nystedt and others
Tuesday 29th June 2010, 4pm
Santuario di Caravaggio
Mass and Concert
Works by Palestrina, Lauridsen, Vaughan Williams and others
Thursday 1st July 2010, 9pm
Chiesa di San Francesco, Lodi
Evening Concert
Tour Personnel
Conductor: David Crown
Organist: Tristan Mitchard
Tour Manager: Giampiero Innocente
Soprano: Sophie Armour, Katie Borg, Kate Piddington, Kate Travers, Amelia Walsh
Alto: Jenni Butler, Ellen Kempston, Amy McCourt, Tristan Mitchard, Stephanie Peate, Clare Phipps
Tenor: David Bowe, Harry Darkins, John McElroy, Robert Tilson
Bass: Simon Grange, Matt Hawkins, David Hughes, Alex Parker, James Percival, Stefan Schwarz, Daniel Wyman
Saturday 26th June 2010, 9pm
Chiesa di San Bernardino, Crema
Evening Concert
Sunday 27th June 2010, 12pm
Basilica di San Marco, Milan
Mass
Works by Palestrina, Mathias, Nystedt and others
Tuesday 29th June 2010, 4pm
Santuario di Caravaggio
Mass and Concert
Works by Palestrina, Lauridsen, Vaughan Williams and others
Thursday 1st July 2010, 9pm
Chiesa di San Francesco, Lodi
Evening Concert
Tour Personnel
Conductor: David Crown
Organist: Tristan Mitchard
Tour Manager: Giampiero Innocente
Soprano: Sophie Armour, Katie Borg, Kate Piddington, Kate Travers, Amelia Walsh
Alto: Jenni Butler, Ellen Kempston, Amy McCourt, Tristan Mitchard, Stephanie Peate, Clare Phipps
Tenor: David Bowe, Harry Darkins, John McElroy, Robert Tilson
Bass: Simon Grange, Matt Hawkins, David Hughes, Alex Parker, James Percival, Stefan Schwarz, Daniel Wyman
Germany Tour 2009
Performances
Sunday 19th July 2009, 10:30am
Brandenburger Dom (Brandenburg Cathedral), Brandenburg an der Havel
Service
Mozart: Missa brevis in D, K. 194
Sunday 19th July 2009, 7:30pm
St.-Katharinen-Kirche, Brandenburg an der Havel
Evening Concert
Tuesday 21st July 2009, 7:30pm
Propsteikirche St. Peter und Paul, Potsdam
Evening Concert
Wednesday 22nd July 2009, 7:30pm
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, Berlin
Evening Concert
Thursday 23rd July 2009, 6pm
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)
Evensong
Works by Howells, Ireland and Tavener
Tour Personnel
Conductor: David Crown
Organists: Joe Burgess, Tristan Mitchard
Tour Manager: Stefan Schwarz
Assistant Tour Manager: Marius Rubin
Soprano: Sophie Armour, Jessica Ballantine, Elizabeth Burrowes, Radhika Chadha, Kate Piddington, Helena Powell, Laura Wood
Alto: Amy Carr, Hannah Charnock, Charlotte Hall, Chloe Johnson, Clare Phipps, Rosie Shakespear
Tenor: Senthuran Bhuvanendra, John McElroy, John Robb, Marius Rubin, Robert Tilson
Bass: Ramin Lolachi, Alex Parker, James Percival, Christoph Schnedermann, Stefan Schwarz, Daniel Wyman, Paul Zaba
Sunday 19th July 2009, 10:30am
Brandenburger Dom (Brandenburg Cathedral), Brandenburg an der Havel
Service
Mozart: Missa brevis in D, K. 194
Sunday 19th July 2009, 7:30pm
St.-Katharinen-Kirche, Brandenburg an der Havel
Evening Concert
Tuesday 21st July 2009, 7:30pm
Propsteikirche St. Peter und Paul, Potsdam
Evening Concert
Wednesday 22nd July 2009, 7:30pm
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, Berlin
Evening Concert
Thursday 23rd July 2009, 6pm
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)
Evensong
Works by Howells, Ireland and Tavener
Tour Personnel
Conductor: David Crown
Organists: Joe Burgess, Tristan Mitchard
Tour Manager: Stefan Schwarz
Assistant Tour Manager: Marius Rubin
Soprano: Sophie Armour, Jessica Ballantine, Elizabeth Burrowes, Radhika Chadha, Kate Piddington, Helena Powell, Laura Wood
Alto: Amy Carr, Hannah Charnock, Charlotte Hall, Chloe Johnson, Clare Phipps, Rosie Shakespear
Tenor: Senthuran Bhuvanendra, John McElroy, John Robb, Marius Rubin, Robert Tilson
Bass: Ramin Lolachi, Alex Parker, James Percival, Christoph Schnedermann, Stefan Schwarz, Daniel Wyman, Paul Zaba
Germany Tour 2005
Performances
Sunday 3rd July 2005, 10:30am
Brandenburger Dom (Brandenburg Cathedral), Brandenburg an der Havel
Service
Palestrina: Missa Brevis
Sunday 3rd July 2005, 7:30pm
St.-Katharinen-Kirche, Brandenburg an der Havel
Evening Concert
Tuesday 5th July 2005, 7:30pm
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, Berlin
Evening Concert
Wednesday 6th July 2005, 7:30pm
St.-Matthäus-Kirche, Berlin
Evening Concert
Soloists: Patrick Vogel (tenor), Rainer Scheerer (bass)
Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah, Stainer: The Crucifixion
Thursday 23rd July 2005, 6pm
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)
Memorial Service
Anthems by Farrant, Ireland and Stainer
Tour Personnel
Conductors: Sam Bayliss, Imogen Parker
Organists: Sam Bayliss, David Newsholme
Tour Manager: Stefan Schwarz
Soprano: Kezia Gaitskell, Ruth Hopkins, Elizabeth Kelly, Rose Lerner, Danae Pallikaropoulos, Nina Pasquali
Alto: Sam Bayliss, Eleanor Calver, Elizabeth Gwyther, Catriona Hanks, Imogen Parker, Rosie Parker, Marta Zaoralova
Tenor: Senthuran Bhuvanendra, Daniel Chambers, Alistair Fair, Robert Lomax, David Newsholme
Bass: Jonathan Clinch, Sam Dwinell, Marc Gascoigne, Philip Gemmell, Matthew Hamilton, Stefan Schwarz, Edward Small
Sunday 3rd July 2005, 10:30am
Brandenburger Dom (Brandenburg Cathedral), Brandenburg an der Havel
Service
Palestrina: Missa Brevis
Sunday 3rd July 2005, 7:30pm
St.-Katharinen-Kirche, Brandenburg an der Havel
Evening Concert
Tuesday 5th July 2005, 7:30pm
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, Berlin
Evening Concert
Wednesday 6th July 2005, 7:30pm
St.-Matthäus-Kirche, Berlin
Evening Concert
Soloists: Patrick Vogel (tenor), Rainer Scheerer (bass)
Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah, Stainer: The Crucifixion
Thursday 23rd July 2005, 6pm
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)
Memorial Service
Anthems by Farrant, Ireland and Stainer
Tour Personnel
Conductors: Sam Bayliss, Imogen Parker
Organists: Sam Bayliss, David Newsholme
Tour Manager: Stefan Schwarz
Soprano: Kezia Gaitskell, Ruth Hopkins, Elizabeth Kelly, Rose Lerner, Danae Pallikaropoulos, Nina Pasquali
Alto: Sam Bayliss, Eleanor Calver, Elizabeth Gwyther, Catriona Hanks, Imogen Parker, Rosie Parker, Marta Zaoralova
Tenor: Senthuran Bhuvanendra, Daniel Chambers, Alistair Fair, Robert Lomax, David Newsholme
Bass: Jonathan Clinch, Sam Dwinell, Marc Gascoigne, Philip Gemmell, Matthew Hamilton, Stefan Schwarz, Edward Small
© 2012-2024 Stefan Schwarz