Six choirs from across the Harrogate district and beyond will be joining forces – and voices – next weekend to perform together for the very first time.
The Harrogate Community Choir Festival, at Harrogate Theatre on Saturday, March 18, will be hosted by the Stray Notes Choir and originated from an idea from the choir’s music director, Liz Linfoot.
She said:
“After a difficult couple of years when choirs were unable to rehearse together and weekly Zoom rehearsals were the norm, Harrogate choirs are once again thriving. This festival is intended as a celebration of singing, and the joy which comes from being part of a choir community.”
The Harrogate Community Choir Festival will feature six local community choirs showcasing some of their favourite songs in a variety of different styles. They are: the Stray Notes, Harrogate Male Voice Choir, Knot Another Choir, Love Pop Choir, Rock Choir, and the Skipton Choir.
Each choir will perform a set of four or five songs and the evening will culminate in a final song with all the choirs and the audience singing together.
Liz added:
“The benefits of singing as part of a group are wide-ranging and scientifically proven, including supporting mental and physical health and building community.
“From shower soloists to music-reading experienced choristers, and from rock to classical music, there is a warm welcome for everyone at a choir in Harrogate.”
The choirs will be raising funds for Wellspring Therapy and Training, this year’s chosen charity of The Stray Notes Choir. Based in Starbeck, Wellspring provides affordable psychological support to people in distress and promotes good mental health through training and education.
The Harrogate Community Choir Festival will be held at Harrogate Theatre at 7pm on Saturday, March 18. Tickets for the event cost £10 (children: £5) and are available online from Harrogate Theatre.
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The Lark Ascending to provide soaring return for Ripon orchestra
Ripon’s St Cecilia Orchestra will return to the city’s cathedral next month with its first performances since March last year.
Two hour-long performances will be staged on Saturday, October 2 at 4pm and 7.30 pm.
The concert will feature Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, which in April topped the Classic FM hall of fame chart for a record eleventh time.
Violinist Charlotte Scott will join the orchestra for the performance which marks 100 years since The Lark Ascending was first performed in its orchestral version.
The audience will also hear Wagner’s symphonic poem Siegfried Idyll and Beethoven’s light-hearted Symphony No. 8.
Ms Scott said:
“It’s always a joy to be asked to perform The Lark Ascending.
“I love searching each time I play this masterwork for new colour and lines in the music that truly represent the lark and its surrounding nature: the possibilities are endless.”
Charlotte Scott. Picture: Matthew Johnson Photography
The Wagner and Beethoven represent a more intimate performance than might usually be seen by St Cecilia in Ripon Cathedral, which last year saw the performance of Mahler’s epic second symphony.
To ensure audience and orchestra safety, the concert is shorter than usual and there will be no intervals.
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Conductor Xenophon Kelsey, who founded the orchestra and has been with it throughout its 26-year history, said it was excited to be back:
“I can’t wait, It’s going to be fantastic to see our wonderful players together again after 18 months of no concerts.”
Tickets are available online (www.st-cecilia.org.uk) or in-person from the Little Ripon Bookshop and Henry Roberts and will also be sold on the door.
Ripon Cathedral appoints new director of musicGerman organist Dr Ronny Krippner has been appointed director of music at Ripon Cathedral.
Dr. Krippner, who is currently organist and director of choral music at Croydon Minster and Whitgift School in London, will start in January.
He will take over from the cathedral’s interim director of music, Peter Wright.
Born in Bavaria, Dr Krippner has considerable experience of both the German and British choral traditions.
Described by BBC Music Magazine as a ‘phenomenal improviser’, Dr Krippner has recorded CDs of organ and choir music on German record labels.
He has performed on television and radio in Germany and the UK.
He has performed organ recitals in Germany, Holland, Belgium, the UK, the United States, Mexico and Australia.
Ripon’s music tradition
Music is an integral part of services and other aspects of life at Ripon Cathedral so this is a key appointment.
Dr Krippner will take charge of the cathedral choir, which consists of boy and girl choristers aged 8 to13 and professional adult singers.
The cathedral’s website says about the choir:
“They sing six services each week and at the great festivals of Christmas and Easter.
“CD recordings, broadcasts, concerts and tours are a major part of the choir’s schedule.”
Dr Krippner studied organ playing and improvisation with Prof. Franz-Josef Stoiber at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik in Regensburg while at the same time working as assistant choirmaster of the Regensburger Domspatzen, Regensburg Cathedral’s famous boys’ choir.
After graduating, he went to Exeter University to take his master’s degree in English Cathedral Music, while singing in the city’s cathedral choir as a choral scholar.
Ripon Cathedral has a strong musical tradition
Building on his twin musical foundations, Dr Krippner went on to take up various posts.
In 2005 he became organ scholar at Bristol Cathedral, organist at Clifton College and a member of staff at Bristol Grammar school, combining his expertise in organ playing with a gift for choral direction.
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After a period working at Newport Cathedral, he moved to London where he was organist and teacher of music at King’s College School, Wimbledon.
In addition to his school activities, Dr Krippner also held the post of assistant director of music at the celebrated ‘Handel church’, St George’s, Hanover Square, London, with its professional choir and annual Handel Festival.