Twyford Singers Christmas Concert 2011 50 Years Of Singing
	The Twyford Singers delighted an audience of over 150 people with an extra-special Christmas concert, performed Saturday 10 thDecember in St Mary’s Church, Twyford.  This concert is the first in a series celebrating the Singers’ jubilee year.
	The concert was opened by a chamber orchestra expertly accompanying the choir in their singing of well-known excerpts from Handel's Messiah. Tenor and Soprano parts were sung exquisitely by guest soloists William Branston (Tenor) and Angela Good (Soprano). The first half was brought to a close with a powerful rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus.
		The audience obvioussly felt totally involved with the performance and the Musical Director, Helen Styles, was radiant as she took her bow before the interval. “This was a marvellous concert, the best ever by Twyford Singers’’ and ‘Really enjoyable concert – first time I have been and I am really impressed’ were just two comments received during the interval. The second half consisted of familiar and less familiar carols with plenty of opportunities for everybody to join in.  The highlight for many was a melodic and moving rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ by Aldophe-Charles Adam, where once again Angela Good contributed her exquisite solo soprano, sensitively supported by the choir.
	Twyford Singers’ chairman Mrs Marjorie Harrison, said: “We have really enjoyed singing with an orchestra and professional soloists, and have been delighted that so many people have come to share the first concert of our jubilee year.  The Messiah was performed at our first concert, so it seemed appropriate that we should revisit this in our jubilee year’  Mrs Harrison then noted: “On January 10th we start rehearsals for our Easter and summer concerts so this would be a good time for anyone to join us.’ “Anyone interested in joining the choir can look on this website, contact us by email at secretary@twyford-singers.org.uk or telephone 0118 969 8326.  There is no audition but you need to be able to sing in tune. Rehearsals are at the United Reformed Church Hall, Church Street, Twyford on Tuesdays 7.45-9.45pm.”

Twyford Singers Palm Sunday Performance 2011
Palm Sunday evening (17th April) saw the performance of John Stainer’s Crucifixion, sung beautifully, once again, by the Twyford Singers. This year’s concert was conducted by Helen Styles, our new Musical Director.
	The Tenor and Baritone solos were faultlessly performed by guest soloists Robin Green and Andrew Mayor, respectively. Their vibrant voices filled the church and succeeded in putting the story of the Passion of Christ into a sensitive and almost tangible form.
At the end of the concert the Rev Simon Howard thanked the choir and said ‘ it has been very moving to hear the Passion story told with so much conviction and colour, and a great joy to experience the church being filled with the powerful voices of both soloists’.   Musical Director Helen Styles commented ‘the highlight of the choir's performance was the magical moment when they stood with folders closed, looked up and sang the motet “God so loved the world”. Singing this from memory meant that the musicality and meaning of the work came across in a much more direct way than is often possible when singing from music.’   ‘I thoroughly enjoyed my first concert with the Twyford Singers and am looking forward to working on repertoire for the summer concert.’   After the concert the audience praised the quality of the performance and commented on what a good way it was to start Holy Week. Some mentioned how much they liked having the opportunity to join in with the five hymns which are each a part of the work.   The Choir members were delighted with the evening and thrilled to see that so many people had chosen to come and hear this traditional Easter work.

Twyford Singers Christmas Concert 2010

The Twyford Singers and their audience were delighted with the annual Christmas concert, given last Saturday 11^th December in St Mary’s Church, Twyford. Many comments on the enjoyableness of the evening were received by a number of choir members from a smiling and enthusiastic audience.

The first half of the concert consisted of a lively rendition of Vivaldi’s Gloria, with members of the choir covering solo parts. “I learned so much about Vivaldi, and have never heard the whole work performed before”; “What a brave undertaking for an amateur choir, and how effective it was”; were just two comments received during the mince pie and warm drinks interval.

The second half consisted of familiar and less familiar carols with plenty of opportunities for everybody to join in. A jazz version of Good King Wenceslas made the audience laugh out loud, and offered the accompanist, Geraldine Marsden, a chance to show a sense of fun and syncopation in her playing. The highlight for many was a melodic and moving rendition of Willow Mackey’s Te Harinui: a Maori carol celebrating the coming of Christianity to New Zealand. 

The applause reached a crescendo for this item.

Following the concert, Mr Samuel Rathbone, the singers Musical Director said:

'I was delighted to be able to perform Vivaldi's famous 'Gloria' with the Twyford Singers. Not only was the performance exciting and polished, but the choir really put their own stamp on the work, something that's not easy to achieve when singing such a well known piece.The more calm, unaccompanied carols of the second half, particularly Rutter's 'Cradle song', were beautifully sung with real thoughtfulness. The choir's ability to really tell the story in these pieces is one of their main strengths, and it was a wonderful way to round off my final concert as Musical Director.'

Twyford Singers’ chairman Mrs Marjorie Harrison, said: “We really appreciate the musical skills Sam brings to the choir, we are sorry to see him go and will miss him”. She then explained: ‘This is the last concert that Sam will conduct as he had recently been successful in taking up the role of Assistant Director of Music at Rochester Cathedral’. Both audience and choir were obviously touched by this piece of news, and wished Sam every success in his future.

Summer Concert 2010

Choir's largest ever audience for a summer concert

The Singers welcomed in July their largest ever audience for a summer concert.   An audience of over 130  enjoyed a feast of summer music ranging from folk songs to Broadway musicals pieces, all performed at Loddon Hall, Twyford.   Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs included a beautiful rendition of the baritone solo part by Simon Whiteley.   Audience members praised the choir for singing the folk songs which followed with great feeling.

The choir gave a lively presentation of Broadway medleys by Richard Rodgers and Andrew Lloyd Webber and from Les Miserables, sharing their enjoyment with their listeners. 

Musical director Samuel Rathbone said: ‘I was pleased that, once again, the Twyford Singers were able to tackle a diverse programme of music with great success.

'Their commitment and flexibility in the Five Mystical Songs was excellent. The performance of the Finzi was some of the best singing I've heard from the choir.'

The singers’ new president, Joanna Brown, praised the choir’s performance, and admired the new choir uniform – all black with long turquoise scarves for the women and toning handkerchiefs for the men.
 

'Anyone interested can look at our website, email secretary@twyford-singers.org.uk or phone 0118 969 8326.  There is no audition but you need to be able to sing in tune. Rehearsals are at the United Reformed Church Hall, Church Street, Twyford on Tuesdays 7.45-9.45pm.’

Palm Sunday Concert 2010

Choir sing with conviction and passion

Twyford Musical director Samuel Rathbone said: "I was delighted the Singers added a new work to their Easter repertoire.

"It was also good to perform a fine work that is emerging in choral music.
 

"The choir sang with real conviction and  passion, and grasped the moods the music offers.

"As always it was wonderful to see the Singers give their all on the day."

Imogen Cummings (left) sang clearly and sweetly as the soprano soloist.

Daniel Fletcher (far left) gave a confident rendition of the multiple parts he covered as baritone soloist.

The choir welcomed back soloists Rónan Busfield and Simon Whiteley who sing at St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle and have busy professional solo careers.

Christmas Concert 2009

The Twyford Singers performed a world première to a capacity audience at their annual Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, Twyford.

The première, 'Gentle Mary laid her child', written specially for the choir by their musical director Samuel Rathbone, was well received by the audience.

Samuel said: ‘The Twyford Singers did a fantastic job at the concert. I was particularly pleased with the Haydn mass, a work that challenges many choral groups. As always, the more reflective, gentle carols were beautifully sung with expression and care.'  

Simon Rigby, who conducted the choir from 2005 to 2007, congratulated Samuel for directing the choir with clarity and musical conviction.  He added: ‘The singers delivered a poignant and expressive concert."
 

Singers chairman Marjorie Harrison said: 'We loved singing the carol Sam wrote: it has a simplicity and gentleness which captures the spirit of Christmas. We really appreciate the musical skills he brings to the choir and the atmosphere he creates during rehearsals.’

Summer Concert 2009

Twyford Singers celebrate composers' anniversaries

This year saw the anniversaries of some of our favourite composers including Haydn, Handel and Purcell. We celebrated some of their music in our Summer Concert at Loddon Hall, Twyford on Saturday 27th June.

The concert opened with movements from Joseph Haydn's 'The Creation' performed by the choir and our  guest soloists: Rachel Major (soprano), Peter Stobart (Tenor) and Simon Whiteley (Bass) who sang the parts of the archangels Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael. The choir were accompanied by Geraldine Marsden and guest accompanist David Stevens.

The choir then performed 'Fairest Isle' and 'If music be the food of love' by Henry Purcell. This was followed up by an amusing round by Purcell - 'Five Reasons', which explains the five reasons why we should drink.

Marjorie Harrison and Sue Thomas both sang solo items by Handel, which were followed  by a total change of tempo and style from the choir with a jazz set of five pieces including "Aint Misbehavin"

The final item was a rousing performance of Handel's much loved 'Zadok The Priest'.

Former musical director of the choir, Simon Rigby, afterwards told the audience: ''This was a splendid concert in which the choir showed great sensitivity and awareness in a stylistically diverse programme. Their excellent Musical Director, Sam Rathbone, is to be commended for having interpreted the pieces with such musicality, conviction and originality, imbuing each performance with his own distinctive artistic vision.'

Musical director Samuel Rathbone said later: 'In a diverse programme of music, the Twyford Singers showed skill and dedication in their performances.  The Choruses of Haydn's Creation were thrilling, particularly when joined by the trio of soloists, and the jazz songs were neatly sung with style and character.'

Palm Sunday Concert 2009

'Vibrant and Passionate performance' at Twyford Singers Easter Concert

This year's Easter Concert by The Twyford Singers was held on Palm Sunday at St. Mary's Church, Twyford, where the choir performed J.H. Maunder's 'Olivet to Calvary'.

Musical Director Samuel Rathbone said afterwards "It was a joy to conduct the Twyford Singers' Palm Sunday performance of Olivet to Calvary.  The choir did themselves great credit with a vibrant and passionate performance of this dramatic work, and were supported fantastically by the two soloists, Ronan Busfield (tenor) and Simon Whiteley (bass/baritone)."

Sam is shortly to graduate from the Royal Academy of Music and will also be starting a new job as an organ scholar at Westminster Abbey in September. He will still continue to conduct the Twyford Singers.

Ronan and Simon are Lay Clerks at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and, in addition to their Chapel duties, have busy professional solo careers.  Ronan has just finished singing with the English National Opera and locally with Park Opera.

The other solo part of Pilate was taken by the choir's own Ted Wallington.

The choir will now be rehearsing for their Summer Concert which will be held at Loddon Hall, Twyford on Saturday June 27th.

The choir is always looking for new members. For more information contact the secretary on 0118 969 5181 or visit our website www.twyford-singers.org.uk  

Palm Sunday Concert 2008

St Mary's Church, Twyford, was filled with more than 100 people on Sunday March 16 for Twyford Singers' presentation of Stainer's Crucifixion, a Victorian meditation for Easter.  It was hailed by members of the audience as an impressive performance, excellent, and passionate.  Guest soloists Nick Madden, tenor, and Gareth Dayus-Jones, baritone, Lay Clerks at St George's Chapel, Windsor, interpreted their parts with great beauty and insight. The accompanist was Geraldine Marsden.

 
Twyford Singers Musical Director, Ronan Busfield, said that the evening's performance was a fresh new approach to an old favourite, masterfully performed by the choir and soloists, and adhering to the message of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. The Singers are pictured below at their rehearsal. Twyford Singers' next Concert will be on June 28 at Loddon Hall, Twyford.  The first part of the programme will be a performance of Faure's Requiem.  The second half will include settings of Beatles' songs and other modern music. If you would like to sing with Twyford Singers, or for more information about the choir, please contact the Choir Secretary on 0118 969 5181

Our last Summer Concert - 2008

Twyford Singers presented A Summer Soiree to a full house at Loddon Hall in the village.

Musical director Rónan Busfield said: "Yet again Twyford Singers performed with musical

sensitivity and flair, this time showing their skills by singing Faure's masterpiece, his Requiem."The solo parts in the Requiem were sung choir members Julie Thomas and David Wootten.

The second half of the concert provided a wide selection of lighter music including three romantic part songs and two traditional folk songs. Sue Thomas from the alto section sang three solo items, one being a surprise item dedicated to Rónan. Rónan, an accomplished tenor soloist who has now left the choir to pursue his own solo singing career, was persuaded to perform three solo items by Roger Quilter.

The evening concluded with Beatles' songs and "Goodnight Sweetheart" as an encore.This year, as well as the usual presentations to soloists, there was a special presentation to a much respected member of the choir, Ted Wallington who sings with bass section. Chairwoman Marjorie Harrison gave Ted a gift and card signed by all the choir members to celebrate his 40 years with the Twyford Singers. Rehearsals restart after the summer break on Tuesday 9th September at 7.45pm at the United Reformed Church Hall. Twyford. New members are very welcome to come to a rehearsal to 

see how we work together. If you would like to sing with Twyford Singers, or for more 

information about the choir, please contact the Choir Secretary on 0118 969181.

Other Summer Concerts