Music Director: Pete Harrison Signer/soloist: Katherine Mount
For more information: www.peteharrison.biz @PeteBHarrison
About Pete… Pete studied at the Royal College of Music before starting his conducting career in the West End. He is a regular guest conductor and presenter with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Recent concerts include, Last Night of the Christmas Proms concerts (since 2010), Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall, their regular series of film music concerts and Proms in the Park.
He conducts regularly for Raymond Gubbay Ltd in major concert venues including Symphony Hall Birmingham, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, The Opera House Dubai, The Grand Theatre Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Bridgewater Hall Manchester and the Royal Festival Hall London. Studio work includes the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC and regular UK session work. Pete also teaches at Wells Cathedral School.
Later this year Pete will be making his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia, The Ulster Orchestra and The Russian State Symphony Orchestra.
WELCOME Welcome to Inspiration Choir’s Christmas concert; Christmas Starts Here.
Christmas is always a favourite time of the year despite the shorter days, but probably just as well as I can’t imagine the Christmas tree lights and decorations would look as good on a warm summer’s evening! Certainly, mince pies wouldn’t taste as good and singing carols in shorts would just be wrong!
What better way to start your Christmas celebrations than with this wonderful collection of Christmas music, readings, orchestral music and songs old and new, all served up with the usual Inspiration twist. Something for everybody.
We have had a fun term learning all these songs with the usual challenge of performing from memory. It’s lovely to be able to give our choir members the chance to do some readings in this concert too.
Our next ‘Open Evening’ rehearsal is on Wednesday, 9th January 2019. Inspiration Choir is open to everyone to come and join our happy family so if you fancy coming along to have a look and see what we’re all about, then please do come and join us at Richard Taunton College starting at 7.15pm. No pressure or commitment, but a fun evening guaranteed!
Pete Harrison, Music Director, Inspiration Southampton
About Gary… I have been singing for as long as I can remember. Wolverhampton Grammar School was my major musical influence – School Choir, Choral Society, Musical Theatre Group, Jazz Band – alongside the Youth Orchestra and the Concert Band.
When it came to University it had to be music, and so to York. Three wonderful years of music making also included being Chorus Master for York Light Opera and MD for Pickering Musical Society.
I then became a tenor in the Choir of York Minster with all that entails; daily services as well as many world tours, concerts and recordings. After 18 years , I left and became part of the creative team behind the formation of SingLive.
Now, with Inspiration as my sole focus, I really do have my dream job. Weekly rehearsals and trips around the country and abroad are a joy.
BRINGING A LITTLE FRISSON TO AN OLD FAVOURITE
We’ve had a great time this term, revisiting some old
favourites, and learning some epic new numbers. One
theme that has emerged seems to be familiar words
to unusual tunes. From ‘Tell Out My Soul’ sung to the
tune of ‘Finlandia’, to ‘Little Town Of Bethlehem’ in
Cliff Richard’s version. We even have some Prokofiev
in there; I’m sure you will spot it.
Christmas is obviously a time for tradition, but we do
like to mix things up a bit too, as you will hear in our
new version of ‘Ding Dong Merrily On High’ – some
lovely jazz harmonies help to bring a little frisson to
an old favourite.
hope that the Inspiration Christmas spectacular gets
you in the mood.
Gary Griffiths, Inspiration Music Director and Founder
Jeanette Albinson Michael Albinson Angela Anderton Jean Attrill John Aynsley Sarah Barker Marie-Helene Beauchamp Hazel Beaumont Lucy Beaumont Mandy Belton Marie Bennett Christine Blackmore Mary Blake Lisa Booth Kathy Bradley Margaret Bradley Neil Bramley Kim Brown Gina Budden Carolyne Burbridge Janet Cairney Genevieve Caldwell-Holmes Richard Calton Dawn Carr Alison Clark Penelope Clay Peter Clay Sara Cobby Julie Court Jennifer Crittell Katherine Daniels Helen Davis Andrea Dixon Jan Donovan Hazel Douglas Jo Dunne Lydia Dutter Debbie Dyke Christine Farmery Madeline Footitt Mary Fort Jill Gardner Hugh Glover
Donna Goodwin Natalie Gore Sarah Greenham Jan Griffin Ann Grimble Bob Grimble David Hadfield Winifred Hatch Laura Havercan Helen Hawkins Zoe Heathcote Rebecca Hewitt Sue Hibberd Helen Hodrien Anne Holmes Helen Humphrey Sally Hunt Pauline Imrie Nicola Jolliffe John Jones Wendy Jones Helena Kurczynska William Lamin Robert Le Grice Stephanie Lees Sheila Leete David Livermore Jackie Long Victoria Macleod Robert Marsh Alan Matlock Mandy Matlock Marisa McClelland Mary Middleclitch Suzanne Middleton Diana Morrell-Glenister Victoria Newland-Jones Lisa Nichols Michela O’Brien Virginia Osmond Sam Paine Gillian Pearson Jackie Perryman
Sandra Perryman Anna Phillips-Moat Douglas Powell Barry Price Kerry Pringle Bobby Pyart Liz Ralls Caroline Rand Carol Rawlinson Masaaki Sakakura Yoko Sakakura Diane Sebon Rachel Shipsides Pat Simmonds Tammi Sinha Rosie Slevin Marie Smith David Spratt Gill Spratt Laura Stephen Jane Stephenson Paul Stephenson Katrina Stout Brian Stubbington Dee Sullivan Katherine Swift Fran Taylor Jenny Titcombe Roger Toye Jane Tudor Veronique Veness David Ware Janet Wedge Margaret Welling Alison White Ruth White Sandra Williams Sarah Wilson Julia Winkworth Julia Wolf Glenda Young
INSPIRATION’S SINGERS
Keep up to date with all the latest news from Inspiration by visiting inspirationuk.com or join us on Facebook at facebook.com/inspirationchoirs
Would you like to sing with Inspiration Southampton? We believe that singing in a large group is
life-affirming and fulfilling in a way that few
other activities can be. Our ethos is simple –
anyone can sing. We have no auditions to join,
you don’t even have to read music, you just
simply have to enjoy it. Rehearsals are great
fun, with a very friendly atmosphere, but we
do work hard.
Wednesday evenings at Richard Taunton Sixth
Form College, starting with an open rehearsal
on 9 January. Come along and give it a go!
For more information or to download a registration form, please visit www.inspirationuk.com/southampton
“When we rehearsed for the first time
with our BSO partners, the Inspiration experience
moved up another level; not just in volume but in jaw- dropping, nerve-tingling
amazement.”
“One of the most amazing experiences
I have had for a while. I enjoyed every moment of the
performance. My only wish was that we could have done it all over again!”
No auditions •••
••• All styles of music
P ho
to g
ra p
hs : A
la n
M at
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Would you like to join Inspiration on the risers for our Spring concert? For more information visit www.inspirationuk.com
CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE ACT ONE
Sing Christmas McDonald
The Carol of the Field Mice Grahame
Ring Out, Wild Bells Tennyson
Sing Noel Various
For To Us A Child Is Born Spacht
The Oxen Hardy
Let Earth And Heaven Reply Prokofiev, Martin
Keep up to date with all the latest news from Inspiration by visiting www.inspirationuk.com or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ inspirationchoirs
CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE ACT TWO
Pure Light, Perfect Light: A Nativity Clydesdale
The First Noel O Little Town of Bethlehem Silent Night We Three Kings
Ding Dong Merrily on High Woodward
Christmas Bells Wadsworth Longfellow
O Come All Ye Faithful Reading, Wade
Do You Hear What I Hear? Baker
BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
For more information about Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra visit www.bsolive.com
Serving the South and South West of England, but with a national and international reputation, the BSO has been a cultural beacon since its foundation in 1893. The Orchestra has worked with such illustrious figures as Bartók, Sibelius, Holst, Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams and more recently with Michael Tippett, John Tavener, Peter Maxwell Davies, Rodion Shchedrin and James MacMillan. Kirill Karabits is the BSO’s Chief Conductor – a role which will see him lead the Orchestra to its 125th Anniversary in 2018 and beyond. He succeeds founder Sir Dan Godfrey and a host of conducting greats including Charles Groves, Constantin Silvestri, Rudolf Schwarz, Paavo Berglund, Andrew Litton, Yakov Kreizberg and Marin Alsop.
The BSO tours worldwide and has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center, New York; Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Vienna; Rudolfinum, Prague; and Philharmonie, Berlin. It makes regular appearances at venues in London and across the UK as well as promoting over 130 concerts in its home region of over 10,000 square miles - from full symphonic concerts in Poole, Bournemouth, Exeter, Bristol, Portsmouth, Truro, Torquay, Winchester, Cheltenham, Guildford, Brighton and Basingstoke to a variety of ensembles, including Kokoro, the BSO’s new music group, which perform at smaller and more unusual venues across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Hampshire. BSO musicians also take part in an extensive portfolio of education and community projects, from national curriculum based workshops in schools, through to tea dances for the elderly, performing alongside enthusiastic amateur players, working with community groups and 18 Music Education Hubs.
The BSO has over 300 recordings to its name since pioneering beginnings in 1914. Recent releases of Bernstein, Vaughan Williams, Finzi, Howells, Dvoák, Bartók, Weill, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Khachaturian have all been highly acclaimed. After the critically acclaimed success of the Prokofiev symphonies with Onyx, the next project has seen the recording of Walton’s symphonies, whilst a new CD with Nicola Benedetti has followed her CD The Silver Violin which was the top-selling classical recording of 2012. In 2013 the BSO became Classic FM’s Orchestra in the South of England and continues to give regular live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3.
First Violin
Second Violin
Carol Paige Samantha Wickramasinghe Penny Tweed Lara Carter Agnieszka Gesler Ines Montero Fuentes
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Flute
Trombone
Marketing Manager Johanna Perkins
Marketing Intern Laura Robertson
Orchestra Manager Liz Williams
Southampton Music Director Pete Harrison
Southampton Rehearsal Accompanist Teresa Barlow
Director of Community Involvement Sue Mitchell
Concert materials, programmes and website Penny Wilson www.penny-wilson.co.uk
How long have you been singing and what got you started?
I have been singing since I was tiny, mostly singing along to the showtunes and 60s music at my Nan’s house. I will forever cherish the memories of the two of us singing together whilst baking!
What made you join Inspiration?
I had wanted to join a choir for years; but this year I set it as a New Year’s resolution to be a member of a choir before my 21st birthday in March. I found Inspiration via Facebook and I came along for the free taster session. I enjoyed every second, from meeting new people to singing songs I have loved for years! I didn’t give it a second thought, I went home and signed up!
What kind of music do you most enjoy singing?
I am a HUGE fan of musicals and partial to belting a few numbers (complete with dance routines) whilst doing the washing up.
If you could sing anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I have always wanted to sing as a part of a flashmob, it looks like a lot of a fun! However, singing at somewhere like Buckingham Palace would be a dream, you can’t really get better than that!
What’s your favourite highlight since joining Inspiration?
Meeting new people and having conversations with a whole range of people, from different walks of life, has been a real eye opener and something I look forward to every week. Walking into Inspiration, I instantly felt like part of the ‘family’, I was met with friendly faces and felt comfortable almost straight away. I knew it was the right place for me and I haven’t looked back!
How does singing make you feel?
Singing makes me feel great mentally and physically. I always feel like I have had a workout when I leave rehearsals. I work in a Primary School so the weeks are always busy, finding the time to sing always makes me feel calmer and ready to face the challenges of the day. Having the dedicated time to sing each week really lifts my mood and sets me up for the rest of the week! Being able to show the children what I have learnt in rehearsals is also a fun segment of my Thursday morning!
Genevieve is 21 years old and lives in Southampton. She works as a Teacher.
This is Genevieve’s third concert with Inspiration Southampton.
SINGER SPOTLIGHT GENEVIEVE CALDWELL- HOLMES
How long have you been singing and what got you started?
I used to sing in a choir at school but between then and now I just sand round my flat for my own enjoyment.
What made you join Inspiration?
I saw Inspiration and the BSO in concert in December 2015, at the end of the concert Pete said anyone could join and I wanted in! I was also looking for something new to be part of and what better thing to join? It was the best decision I have ever made.
What kind of music do you most enjoy singing?
That depends on my mood. Different music matches how I feel at different times. I really enjoy the mix of songs that we sing in Inspiration, although I have to say, I particularly love the songs that have a story to tell. Show tunes are rather good too, oh, but the contemporary songs are also great. So no, I can’t decide.
If you could sing anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The Royal Albert Hall, London.
What’s your favourite highlight since joining Inspiration?
It has all been a highlight and I love being a member of Inspiration. It is the thrill of singing with the BSO and I have made so many great new friends.
How does singing make you feel?
To put it simply, singing makes me happy.
What would you say to anyone unsure about trying singing as a hobby?
Give it a go! There is nothing to stop you and nothing to lose. You can take the hobby with you anywhere. It’s a lot easier than picking up the piano and taking that with you (nothing against pianists I hasten to add!).
Helen is 43 years old and lives in Southampton. She works as an Administrator.
Helen has been with Inspiration Southampton since 2016.
SINGER SPOTLIGHT HELEN HAWKINS
Inspiration Choir Southampton and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra present
The Great British Sing A concert showcasing the best of British composers and songwriters
Saturday 6 April 2019, 7.30pm