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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!
Summer is Icumin in - Traditional
Hark, Hark the Lark - Alan Bullard
The Darkened Valley - Fanny Hensel
In time of Silver Rain - Sarah Quartel - Mary Morgan solo
Cantique - Nadia Boulanger - Mary Morgan solo
Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart
Cantique de Jean Racine - Faure
Vocalise - Rachmaninov - Celia Smith flute solo
Three Hungarian Songs - Seiber
Cantilena - Poulenc - Sophie Baker flute solo
Sing a song of Sixpence - arr. Diack
Feel the Spirit - John Rutter - Mary Morgan soprano solo
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:
Requiem Aeternam - John Rutter
Calm and Deep peace - song with text from Tennyson
Larghetto from Handel's Flute sonata in C - Celia Smith Solo
Greensleeves - Traditional
As Torrents in Summer - Edward Elgar, words by Longfellow
Under the Greenwood Tree - William Walton, words by Shakespeare
Scarborough Fair - Traditional/William Walton
Seal Lullaby - Eric Whitacre, words by Rudyard Kipling
Kitty Waltz - Faure - Piano Duet - Jackie Ayres and John Bodily
Scherzino - T.A Johnson
4 Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare - Shearing.
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
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
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
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
Saturday 16th February 2019
Salvation Army Hall, Moorland Road, Bridgwater
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A Family Concert of
Carols and Christmas Music
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
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
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
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