Stash, Shakespeare and Celebration

Hi everyone!

Phew. Sorry for the lack of posts this term :( it's been very busy in the run up to exams (even for the musicians boasting a grand total of 3 exams - they had summatives, we didn't - fair is fair).

This term has been spent rehearsing repertoire for TWO concerts coming up in the next couple of weeks. TOMORROW, DUCC will be performing in the opening concert of the Durham University Festival of the Arts which will feature music on a theme of SHAKESPEARE. The choir will perform three pieces, each with text by the Bard, two of which have been arranged specially by our very own Will Ford. Tickets can be purchased here.

O mistress mine - Alan Murray

Fear no more the heat o' the sun - Gerald Finzi (arr. Ford)

Take, o take these lips away - Roger Quilter (arr. Ford)

The other half of our work this term has been towards the choir's SUMMER CONCERT in the Cathedral. Along with other pieces on a theme of remembrance (you can find the full programme list here) the choir will be performing two iconic works in the choral repertoire: Duruflé's Requiem and Finzi's Lo, the full, final sacrifice. We are also incredibly excited to be incorporating the Cathedral Organ into our performance particularly in these two works. The Cathedral's organ is a fantastic instrument and we are very lucky to have Cathedral Organ Scholar (and resident DUCC accompanist) Jonathan Allsopp (Duruflé) and University & Hatfield College Organ Scholar Josh Ridley (Finzi) at the manuals for these challenging pieces. Tickets available here.

In lighter news, next week is the beginning of 'Chamber Choir Week' which marks five days of intensive rehearsals (and intensive organised fun too!). Hopefully we will have lots of blogging from different members of the choir in the run up to the concert and please prepare yourselves for an enormous publicity onslaught (for which I apologise in advance) - we know it's going to be an amazing concert so it's really important to have lots of people there to share it with us!

You can buy tickets here and student tickets are only £5. There is a rumour (I renounce all responsibility if this doesn't actually happen) that a similar 2 for 1 deal on tickets may appear at some point next week so keep your eyes peeled!

Lastly, we have some lovely new stash so you can recognise a choir member in the wild. Here is a photo of Florian, Tom and Rowena all looking radiant, resplendent with the new offerings.