Previous Concerts & Events

The choir welcomed many visiting singers at our annual singing day on March 15th 2025. We had a wonderful day of music with a variety of old and new from Faure's lovely requiem to Eric Whitacre's enchanting Seal Lullaby, composed in 2015. All expertly steered by our conductor Jackie Ayres and accompanist Kath Sugden. There was plenty of tea and cake and much conversation in between.

If you not a regular choir member and attended our singing day, you would be most welcome to join us for the rest of the term and our concerts in May and June. 

Please contact secretary Sue Pow or email us at harmoniabridgwater@gmail.com

Concerts December 2024

We performed two concerts during December 2024 at St. Mary's Cannington and Nether Stowey Church Centre. Both were well received by appreciative audiences.

We performed a selection of Christmas music covering over two centuries with works by Rutter, Joubert, Bach and a carols written by choir members Rachel Boyd, Rachel Olley and Conductor Jackie Ayres.

We also sang some traditional carols with the audience and were joined on stage at Cannington by local children for a lovely performance of Away in a Manger.


The Choir pictured at St. Mary's Church, Cannington after our successful carol concert.

Some members of the choir starting the Christmas festivities with a carol concert for the residents and staff at the Rosary in Bridgwater on November 28th 2024


Harmonia Chamber Choir June 2024

The Choir pictured at St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater after our successful summer concert in June 2024.



June 2024 saw us perform two concerts to appreciative audiences in St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater and St. Mary's Church, Cannington

We had a varied repertoire to showcase the skills within the choir. Part 2 saw a great performance of John Rutter's magnificent arrangement of seven spirituals ranging from contemplative to rousing!

Solo parts were also sung by Ann Philcox and Steve Lodge 

Flute: Celia Smith, Sophie Baker. Oboe: Elizabeth Lathwood.

Cello: Kate Ayres-Baker. Piano: Kath Sugden, Jackie Ayres. 


Concert review

"Bridgwater Choral Society’s ‘Harmonia Choir’ took it’s music further afield to St Mary’s Parish Church, Cannington in June, following earlier performances with a Singing Day and Bridgwater concert.  The beautiful church of St Mary’s Cannington was a perfect setting for their varied summer programme, which was well received by a full audience on June 7th.

Conducted by Jackie Ayres and accompanied by Kath Sugden, the choir sang pieces by Mozart, Faure, Seiber, Alan Bullard and Fanny Hensel, preceded by that traditional welcoming of summer in the mediaeval ‘Summer is i cumen in’, complete with cuckoos.

Soloists Mary Morgan (soprano), Sophie Baker and Celia Smith (flutes), Elizabeth Lapwood (oboe) and Kate Ayres- Baker (Cello) were individually and collectively impressive in a variety of music by Boulanger, Rachmaninov, Faure and Poulenc.

After an interval for refreshments Harmonia performed Rutter’s ‘Feel the Spirit’, a moving cycle of spirituals, including ‘Steal away’, Deep River and concluding with the lively ‘When the saints go marching in’. Soloists Mary Morgan, Steve Lodge, and Ann Philcox’s contributions were particularly powerful, aided by Kath Sugden on piano and Elizabeth Lathwood on oboe."

Review by audience member Paul Smith.

March 2024 we had a successful "Come and Sing" day.

Harmonia members had a most enjoyable singing day in our rehearsal venue, the Salvation Army Hall, and were joined by potential new members. Formed from Bridgwater Choral Society, the members were led by their conductor Jackie Ayres, working through songs from around the world such as John Rutter's Feel the Spirit and choral classics by Robert Schumann and Faure. It was a friendly day and gave members the chance to socialise together with a cuppa while doing what they really love. Over the past two years the choir has developed a good balance and has tackled an eclectic mix of music. 

December 2023 Christmas concert at Nether Stowey Church Hall

Harmonia performed its joyful Christmas concert to a full house in Nether Stowey‘s Church Hall on the 9th December.

The programme included well-known works by Bach, Berlioz, Handel and Rutter together with a number of rarely heard seasonal pieces. Carols were mainly sung by the choir, though the audience joined in several more familiar ones, all ably conducted by Jackie Ayres and accompanied by Stephen Bell on piano and Kate Ayres-Baker on cello.

Concert review

"Particular highlights were pieces from Handel’s ‘Messiah’, including the scene-setting Pastoral played by oboe, flutes, cello and continuo; J.S. Bach’s ‘Minuet’ played by Celia Smith on flute; and Bob Chilcott’s ‘Shepherd’s Carol’, sung by Mary Morgan. This latter piece of breathtaking beauty was followed, appropriately, by a moment of magical, transcendent silence. 

A Spanish visitor was heard to comment that he had expected a good overall performance but that it had been altogether on another level -‘estupendo’ - ‘wonderful’ and indeed it was.

Refreshments following the concert were accompanied by a number of young musicians performing perhaps for the first time to a large audience.  Thanks must also be given to those ‘older’ musicians accompanying throughout the concert on piano, oboe, flute and clarinet, which added so much to the occasion. " 


Concert review by audience member Paul Smith.

June 2023, St. Mary's Bridgwater

A successful Concert at St. Mary's Bridgwater with the growing Choir. Billed as 'Poetry in Music' the programme consisted of a range of sacred and secular arrangements including:

Oboe solo and accompaniment - Elizabeth Latwood


December 2022, St. Mary's Bridgwater




Our first concert as Harmonia! After the Covid restrictions had been lifted we were able to rehearse together once again; albeit a much smaller group. We performed a selection of Christmas music and was well received by a grateful audience that had not seen much live music for a while.


Previous Concerts

Saturday 16th May 2020 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

This concert by Bridgwater Choral Society to celebrate 75 years of Peace since the Second World War is now CANCELLED due to the ongoing coronavirus situation. 

The Choir hopes that the music it had begun to prepare will be performed at a time in the future when the health emergency is over. 

In September, all being well, the Choir will reassemble to rehearse their planned Christmas Concert, which will take place at the same venue on Saturday December 5th 2020. This Concert is always very popular so the Society members hope that you will join them once more for this joyous event.


Saturday 30th November 2019 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Vivaldi: Gloria

Mozart: Regina Coeli & Coronation Mass

Boyce: Symphonies 4 & 5

Haydn: St Nicholas Mass

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Ochestra led by ~ Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Rachel Phillips

Alto ~ Louise Innes

Tenor ~ Kamil Bien *

Bass ~ Andre Soares

Saturday 11th May 2019 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Brahms: German Requiem

Song of Destiny

Lieder

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Charlotte Newstead

Baritone ~ Thomas Humphries

Accompanist ~ Raya Kostova

Saturday 16th February 2019

Salvation Army Hall, Moorland Road, Bridgwater

Come & Sing Day

Choruses from Handel's: Jephtha

If you have been considering joining the Choral Society, this might be just the occasion you are looking for to spend time with us before taking the plunge!   We are always looking for new singers, and offer plenty of support and encouragement to get you started.

Tea/Coffee and biscuits will be provided ~ please bring a packed lunch.

Saturday 01st December 2018 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Handel: Messiah

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Nicola Wydenbach

Alto ~ Fiona McKay

Tenor ~ Guy Withers

Bass ~ Jevan McAuley

Saturday 12th May 2018 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Fauré: Requiem

Handel: Coronation Anthems

Iain Cooper: Benedicite

for Choir, Brass, Piano Duet and Timpani

Pianists: John Bodiley & Frances Webb

The Wallscourt Brass Quintet

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Mary Morgan

Baritone ~ Andre Soares

Bridgwater Choral Society Come & Sing 

Haydn: The Creation on Saturday 17th February 2018

10.00 am - 4.00 pm

Registration from 9.30 am

£12.00 to include music hire and tea/coffee

Please bring a packed lunch 

Soup and rolls will also be available for a small fee

This year we are delighted to be returning to:

Salvation Army Hall, Moorland Road, Bridgwater TA6 4JS

Saturday 02nd December 2017 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Bach: Christmas Oratorio

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Soprano ~ Charlotte Newstead

Alto ~ Fiona Mackay

Tenor ~ Guy Withers

Baritone ~ Przemyslaw Baranak

Saturday 06th May 2017 Bridgwater Baptist Church

Bliss: Pastoral

Britten: St Nicolas

Holst: Two Psalms

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~ Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Tenor ~ Dominick Felix

Bridgwater Choral Society with Conductor Iain Cooper invite you to Come & Sing Fauré's Requiem & Cantique de Jean Racine on Saturday 18th February 2017

This year we are delighted to be holding the event at

Salvation Army Hall, Moorland Road, Bridgwater TA6 4JS

If you have been considering joining the Choral Society, this might be just the occasion you are looking for to spend time with us before taking the plunge!   We are always looking for new singers, and offer plenty of support and encouragement to get you started.

Entry is £12.00 to include hire of music, with plenty of tea/coffee and biscuits!

Please bring a packed lunch.

Places are limited so be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.

Saturday 10th December 2016 St. Andrew's Church, Stogursey

Beethoven:

Prometheus Overture

Mass in C & Choral Fantasia

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~ Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Piano ~ Raya Kostova

Soprano ~ Kathryn Skipp

Alto ~ Fiona McKay

Tenor ~ David Woodward

Bass ~ Thomas Humphries

Saturday 07th May 2016 St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Mozart: Requiem

Haydn: Nelson Mass

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~ Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Mary Morgan

Alto ~ Anne Braley

Tenor ~ Guy Withers

Bass ~ Edmund Saddington

Tickets: £12 reserved (£10 for Friends)

£8 unreserved, accompanied under 16s free

A Family Concert of

Carols and Christmas Music

Saturday 05th December 2015 at 7.30 pm

St. Mary’s Church, Bridgwater

with the choir of St Mary’s Primary School

and the Wallscourt Brass Quintet

 Conductor - Iain Cooper 

Organ ~ John Bodiley 

Tickets: £5.00

 accompanied under 16s free.

Saturday 28th November 2015 St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Handel: Messiah

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~ Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Kathryn Skipp

Alto ~ Ben Sawyer

Tenor ~ Dominick Felix

Bass ~ Thomas Humphreys


Saturday 09th May 2015 St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater

J S Bach: St Matthew Passion

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~ Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Jesus ~ Louis Hurst

Evangelist ~ Bo Wang 

Soprano ~    Charlotte Newstead 

Alto ~ Fiona Mackay

Bass ~ Stephen Whitford

Continuo ~ John Bodiley

Cello ~ Jane Francis