Summer choral courseMost years, we meet in late August for a residential week based at a boarding school in Newcastle upon Tyne - though currently these are an endangered species! The choir is usually then at its full strength (up to 30 singers, with equal numbers of men and women), so that we can tackle the more demanding six and eight part music. Having a mixed alto line widens our scope even more.
In recent years the summer week has been based on choral services at Newcastle Cathedral, Hexham Abbey, and other local churches. We always explore a wide range of music from the 16th to the 21st centuries, including some unfamiliar pieces – a few years ago we gave the first Newcastle performance of "The Queens' Service" by Stanford.
By arrangement with English Heritage, we also put on a concert in the lovely setting of Brinkburn Priory in rural Northumberland on the final day of the course.
If a residential school is not available, we simply have a long weekend of singing (rehearsals and services at the cathedral, plus the concert at Brinkburn), with our local singers accommodating the 'away team' for a few days and some meals shared together. This is planned for 24th–27th August 2007, ending with the concert at Brinkburn Priory on the holiday Monday (27th). Departure can be on Monday or Tuesday. Costs have still to be confirmed, but we keep them down to around £20 per person for the shared meals, plus £12 for the hire of an academic gown (for those who don’t have their own).
