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FARNHAM YOUTH CHOIR
has a new website. Last updated: 14th October 2007 First concert of new choir year. Photos ©Jan Dunford 2007 At peace with the guns, Farnham Youth Choir sing at the Imperial War Museum Casual visitors to the Imperial War Museum on Friday September 21st were surprised, if not enthralled, to have their visit accompanied by a haunting piece – Stolen Voices – performed by members of Farnham Youth Choir, singers from the adult Choir of London, together with members of their Orchestra, and Elisabeth Franklin-Kitchen(soprano). The twenty minute cantata was commissioned by the Jewish Music Institute in association with the United Nations Children in Armed Conflict Division for the United Nations International Day of Peace 2007. Composed by British-born Tarik O'Regan, this performance of Stolen Voices was the world premiere. Musical director David Victor-Smith was delighted with the opportunity. Photos ©Jeremy Smith 2007 Australian stars visit Farnham Passers by St Andrews Church last week would have heard one of the world’s leading youth choirs fine-tuning their contribution to a performance at a Promenade Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, transmitted live on BBC TV and radio on Sunday July 22nd. The group were rehearsing a new commission - ‘Vexations and Devotions’, by Australian composer Brett Dean which is described as a ‘sociological cantata’, hitting out at the dehumanising of modern society. Additionally the group shared a joint concert with their FYC hosts on Wednesday, 18th July in St Andrew’s Church. The audience of some 150 was wowed by Gondwana Voices’ drive, technical precision and variety of repertoire. Outstanding were pieces composed by their director, Lyn Williams, and a series of indigenous items from the people of the Torres Straits. The two choirs combined for a thrilling finale of three songs. including a setting of 'O vos omnes' with the youngsters spread across the east end of the church, exploiting its wonderful acoustics. The audience demonstrated its appreciation of the concert with a standing ovation at the end. The original contact arose from Farnham Youth Choir musical director David Victor-Smith attending the group’s two-week music course in Brisbane last January as international guest conductor. "It was a privilege to work with Gondwana Voices. Lyn Williams is an exceptional musician who has created an outstanding choir that is renowned throughout the world". Photos ©Jeremy Smith 2007 Gala Summer Concert, Farnham Maltings Farnham Youth Choir Photos ©Jeremy Smith 2007 ‘Overture Weekend’, Southbank Centre, celebrating the re-opening of The Royal Festival Hall Photos ©Phil Dunford & Jeremy Smith 2007 Recording Farnham Youth Choir recently spent a long weekend recording pieces from their current repertoire. The acoustics and piano at St. Thomas on-the Bourne Church are ideal, and the neighbours all kindly avoided running mowers for the weekend! One day’s recording focussed on Christmas music - the sparkling tree helped to set the mood! Photos ©Jan & Phil Dunford 2007 St. George’s Day Concert with Basingstoke Male Voice Choir, Farnham Youth Choir were delighted to be invited to join The Basingstoke Male Voice Choir for their tenth celebration of St. George’s Day. The capacity audience were treated to a delightful range of music, old and new. Much of it of course was English but some pieces were from further afield, including Sweden and Hungary. The concert closed with everyone joining together to sing Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory. A fantastic evening for all present! Photos ©Jeremy Smith 2007 The BMVC got the audience and youth choir involved in the singing with Climb Every Mountain before an enchanting extract from Cobbett’s Rural Rides narrated by Luath Grant Ferguson Farnham Festival, Farnham Maltings Photos ©Jeremy Smith 2007 Farnham Festival, St. Andrew’s Church, Farnham Ending their term with a busy two days, the Farnham Junior Boys' Choir joined with the boys from Bromley and Berkshire for a Boys Singing Day in Reading on Sunday, 18th March followed on Monday by a performance of Jonah Man Jazz by Michael Hurd, given in St Andrew's Parish Church, Farnham on the second evening of the biennual Farnham Festival. Farnham Junior Girls' Choir was also performing at the festival concert, which also featured a local school choir and an area Junior String Orchestra. Photos ©Jeremy Smith 2007 Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Charity Concert, A capacity audience enjoyed the youth choir's latest concert in Fleet Methodist Church, given in aid of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. Afterwards, many described the evening as 'positively uplifting' , 'an absolute joy', 'a wonderful tonic on a winter's evening!' The concert raised in excess of £1,500 for the local charity. Photos ©Jeremy Smith 2007
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Farncombe Sat 13th Oct.
When I was invited by the poet Melanie Challenger to premiere this extraordinary piece with Farnham Youth Choir and the Choir of London, the two things that excited me were the appropriateness of a children's choir featuring in a work about children's experiences in war-time, and the composer, O’Regan, whose reputation is growing in this country. That it was to be held on the UN International Day of Peace and at the Imperial War Museum made it all the more interesting!"
Together with the Imperial War Museum education department, Melanie Challenger had organised a series of language and music-based workshops in London schools culminating in the event that celebrated the UN International Day of Peace. Farnham Youth Choir members, themselves aged between 13 and 18, were involved in special presentations from the primary schools, supporting their singing and providing the model of 'good listening'. They also heard talks from some of the diarists whose words have been included in the recently published book 'Stolen Voices'. They found it easy to identify with the children of the past who had had ordinary lives disrupted by war.
Surrounded by tanks, guns and artillery, the children, invited guests and members of the public reacted very positively to the unique soundscape created by O'Regan's music. “Quite extraordinary” and “beautiful" were just some of the comments.
Gondwana Voices, forty youngsters between 11 and 17, specially selected from across all Australia, have been staying in Farnham as guests of the Farnham Youth Choir. Their visit to Farnham completed a demanding tour taking in a festival in Newfoundland and a concert programme in France
23rd June 2007
Farnham Junior Boys’ Choir
Farnham Junior Girls’ Choir
9th & 10th June 2007
5th, 6th & 7th May 2007
United Reformed Church, Basingstoke
Saturday 21st April 2007
Saturday 24th March 2007
Monday 19th March 2007 and Boys’ Choir singing day
Saturday 10th February 2007, Fleet Methodist Church
