Previous Concerts & Events

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

Image courtesy of C M Friese

Saturday 06th December 2014 St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Edward Elgar: Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands

John Rutter: Feel the Spirit

Benjamin Britten: Ceremony of Carols

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Piano ~  John Bodiley

Harp ~ Sally Jenkins

Soprano ~ Mary Morgan

Contralto ~ Gaye Boggon


Saturday 10th May 2014 St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater

 Haydn:   Creation 

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~    Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Charlotte Newstead

Tenor ~ Daniel Joy 

Bass ~   Szymon Wach

Saturday 07th December 2013 St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater

In Tune with Heaven

English Church Music of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Including music by

Elgar, Stanford, Parry, Bairstow, Britten, Stainer, Wesley, Vaughan Williams and Holst

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Organist ~  John Bodiley

Saturday 11th May 2013 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Bach -  Mass in B Minor 

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~  Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Eleanor Ross

Soprano ~ Mary Morgan

Alto ~ Fiona McKay

Tenor ~ Paul Smy 

Bass ~ Szymon Wach

 

Saturday 08th December 2012 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Handel - Messiah

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~  Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Soprano ~ Jean McElroy

Countertenor ~ Jeremy Kenyon

Tenor ~ Richard Rowntree

Bass ~ Philip Tebb

Price: £12 reserved (£10 for Friends),

£8 unreserved, accompanied under 16s free.

Saturday 12th May 2012 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Carl Orff ~ Carmina Burana

Lambert ~ Rio Grande

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Pianos ~ Andrew Hansford & Frances Webb

with percussion ensemble

Soprano ~ Charlotte Newstead

Alto ~ Fran Marshfield

Tenor ~ Paul Smy

Bass ~ Julian Rippon

Tickets £11, £8.50 reserved, £6 unreserved ( Accompanied under 16s free)

Available two weeks in advance from Bridgwater Book Shop tel 01278 457565 or on the door on the evening of the concert

Concert sponsored by

EDF Energy Logo

Wednesday 07th December 2011 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Puccini ~ Messa di Gloria

Brahms ~ Alto Rhapsody

Faure ~ Pavanne

Holst ~ Ode to Death

Conductor ~ Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by ~ Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Mezzo-Soprano ~ Helen Sherman

Tenor ~ Peter Wilman

Bass/Baritone ~ Julian Rippon

Saturday 07th May 2011 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Joint concert with Cleeve Chorale of Cheltenham

Mendelssohn - Elijah

Conductor - Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by Sarah Drury

Accompanist - Ray Willis

Soprano - Nicola Wydenbach

Alto - Penelope Davies

Tenor - Richard Rowntree

Baritone - Phillip Tebb

 Saturday 04th December 2010 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater 

Handel - Messiah 

Conductor - Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by Carol Paige

Harpsichord Continuo - John Bodiley

Soprano - Mary Morgan

Counter Tenor - Jeremy Burrows

 and

from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Tenor - Alberto Sousa

Bass - Ashley Riches 

Wednesday 12th May 2010 St Mary's Church, Bridgwater

Haydn - Missa in Tempore Belli (Paukenmesse)

Mozart - Regina Coeli

Schubert - Tantum Ergo

&  Intende Voci

Conductor - Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Accompanist - Ray Willis

Soprano - Eleanor Briggs -  2009 Winner of the Alfreda Hodgson Bursary of Making Music

Alto - Pamela Rudge

Tenor - Richard Rowntree

Bass - Brian Pursey

Wednesday 02nd December 2009 St Mary’s Church, Bridgwater

Handel Alexander's Feast

Conductor - Iain Cooper

Orchestra led by Brigid Kirkland-Wilson

Organ - Ray Willis

Soprano - Mary Morgan

Tenor - Peter Wilman

Bass - David Mills

Saturday 09th May 2009 St Mary’s Church - Bridgwater

Joint concert with Cleeve Chorale of Cheltenham

MOZART SOLEMN VESPERS DI CONFESSORE

and

MASS in C MINOR

Orchestra led by Carol Bennett

Soprano – Mary Morgan

Soprano – Jean McElroy

Alto – Karen Longmate

Tenor - James Atherton

Bass – David Mills

Conductor - Iain Cooper

Saturday 25th April 2009 Cleeve School Hall - Bishop's Cleeve

Joint concert with Cleeve Chorale of Cheltenham

MOZART

SOLEMN VESPERS DI CONFESSORE

and

MASS in C MINOR

Orchestra led by Claire Piper

Soprano – Mary Morgan

Soprano – Jean McElroy

Alto – Karen Longmate

Tenor - Peter Wilman

Bass – David Mills

Conductor - Iain Cooper