Music in Claygate

March 2025

SINGERS CELEBRATE ITALIAN COMPOSER’S ANNIVERSARY

The Ripieno Choir will be giving a concert on Saturday March 22 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Palestrina, the 16th century Italian composer.

The choir, which includes several singers from Claygate, and which specialises in Renaissance and Baroque music, will be pairing some of Palestrina’s magnificent settings of sacred texts with settings of the same words by a variety of more recent composers.

The concert at 7.30pm in All Saints, Weston Green, includes part of Palestrina's wonderful Missa Papae Marcelli. Refreshments will served at the reception in the church hall after the concert.

For more details, and to buy tickets, visit http://ripienochoir.org.uk/concerts/palestrina-in-rome/

CHOIR WELCOMES HIGHLY QUALIFIED MUSICAL DIRECTOR

A well-travelled new musical director at Claygate Choral Society brings with him a wealth of talent and experience. David Terry, who joined in January, is originally from Kingston and is a graduate of Lincoln College, Oxford. He taught music at Downside School, then at the London Oratory School, where he was director of music for six years.

David also spent two years in Brazil, where he was head of music at St Paul’s School in São Paulo and he is now the Head of Music at Coombe Girls’ School in New Malden. He is an accomplished organist as well as pianist, and has held positions at Wells Cathedral, Hampstead Parish Church and as director of music at St Columba’s in Pont Street, Chelsea. He was organist at São Bento Monastery during his time in São Paolo, and is currently director of music at St Mary’s, Brookfield. He is also a composer of choral music for Novello publishers.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is an Associate of both the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Organists.

The Claygate choir is delighted to have him conducting its next concert on Saturday May 17 at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church.

The society will be performing the Dvorák Mass in D and music by Elgar – “From the Bavarian Highlands”. The soloist will be Gareth Giles. Tickets are £15, available via the society’s website (card charges may apply); on the door; or by calling 01372 462649. https://www.claygatechoralsociety.co.uk/

RISING STAR TO TAKE THE STAGE IN CLAYGATE

A rapidly rising star in the world of classical music brings the latest season of concerts from the Oxshott & Cobham Music Society to an exciting climax, when Coco Tomita, the highly acclaimed young violinist, appears in Claygate’s Holy Trinity Church on Saturday March 22, accompanied by Simon Callaghan on piano.

The Oxshott & Cobham Music Society holds six concerts a year in Claygate and attracts some of the finest classical musicians in the world. Coco Tomita is the latest example, having won the BBC Young Musician award for the strings category in 2020.

Coco and Simon will perform Debussy's Violin Sonata in G Minor, Prokoviev's Violin Sonata No.1 and Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No.9 (Kreutzer). The two musicians play regularly together and released their first record in 2022. Coco is based in London and Berlin and performs internationally.

The concert start at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church. Tickets are £22, with reduced rates for family groups. Children and students under 26 (with ID) enter free, as do OCMS members. NHS workers and Universal Credit recipients pay £5.

Tickets can bought on the door (cash and card payments accepted), or via the Box Office: janemuir72@gmail. com or phone 07766 884 991. They are also available online (with a fee) at https://wegottickets.com/event/628664

For more information, see the OCMS website https://www.ocms-music.org.uk/ or email mail.ocmsmusic@gmail.com.

The new OCMS season begins in September.

source: Claygate Courier, March 2025 issue, pages 22 & 23

March 2024

CLASSICAL CONCERTS ON THE DOORSTEP

Superb classical music is regularly featured in Holy Trinity Church – saving residents the cost and 􀀐me of a trip to London venues. And the next two events organised by the Oxshott and Cobham Music Society which hosts all its concerts in Claygate, promise no let-up in quality.

On Saturday March 9, at 8pm, the English Chamber Orchestra ensemble, with violinist Ofer Falk, perform Mendelssohn's great Violin Concerto in E minor and String Octet in E-flat major. Doors open at 7.30, with tickets available for £25, in advance or at the door.

Then in April, the young Kleio Quartet, winners of the prestigious Carl Nielsen Competition 2023, play Haydn's String Quartet Op 74 No.3 “The Rider”, String Quartet No.4 in C by Bartok, and two pieces from a Creole-inspired string quartet by American composer Wynton Marsalis. This concert begins at 8pm on Saturday April 6, with doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £22.

Concessionary ticket prices are available for NHS staff, with a new discount for parents (or grandparents) bringing children. Children, students under 26 and Universal Credit recipients (with ID) and carers are admitted free. Box Office: janemuir72@gmail.com, 07766 884991. See www.ocms-music.org.uk.

The Society starts its next season on September 28. New brochures should be available on the website in late July or early August, and are also put in local libraries.

source: Claygate Courier, March 2024 issue, page 18

CHOIR PRESENTS ETHEREAL ECHOES OF HANDEL

The Baroque brilliance of Handel's music will transport the audience at the Claygate Choral Society's next concert in March. The ethereal echoes of “Sing unto God” will be complemented by the celestial beauty of Schubert's Mass in C, which intertwines spiritual depth with the rich tapestry of the choir's voices.

The choir will also present Carl Nielsen's “Fynsk Forår” (Springtime in Funen), which will be a delightful contrast. Under the skilful direction of conductor Tim Sandford, the choir and orchestra will present this full and exciting repertoire at Holy Trinity Church in Claygate on Saturday March 23 at 7.30 pm. The choir will be accompanied by an orchestra of accomplished musicians and professional soloists. Gareth Giles, the resident accompanist, will add his virtuosity on organ and piano.

The choir, a vibrant community of around 50 local members, brings a diverse range of voices together for a compelling and resonant musical experience. Their dedication and passion promises to captivate the audience. Claygate Choral Society is thrilled to have been invited to perform the same concert at the Danish Church in Regents Park on Sunday April 21. This underscores the choir's versatility and dedication to spreading the joy of music beyond local boundaries.

If you enjoy singing and would like to join a friendly choir, come along to Friday evening rehearsals at Holy Trinity Church Hall in Claygate. No auditions required! See the website for more details: www.claygatechoralsociety.co.uk

source: Claygate Courier, March 2024 issue, page 19

See also

• Claygate Choral Society
• Oxshott and Cobham Music Society
• Vocality
• https://www.claygatechoralsociety.co.uk/
• https://www.ocms-music.org.uk/