Seeking new choral voices (From Cotswold Journal)

Seeking new choral voices

1:12pm Wednesday 12th September 2007

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CHORAL society Philomusica is about to start its new season and is looking for new members from the Evesham area.

After a successful fortieth season, the choir is looking forward to a busy autumn rehearsing and performing English music.

Members will be singing the short oratorio The Light of Life by Elgar and reviving a neglected choral work by Harold Briggs, a musician with very strong local connections.

"Harold Briggs was born in Lancashire," said Philomusica chairman John Quinn. "But after the Second World War he eventually found his way to Gloucester, where for many years he was music adviser to the city's education department.

"He was also active in many other ways in the musical life of Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties. Philomusica actually gave the first performance of his piece Praise The Lord O My Soul in 1979 and we're delighted to be reviving this exciting work. It should go really well with the fine piece by Elgar."

The Philomusica choir currently has around 90 members and is always looking to welcome new singers.

"We don't have auditions so no one should be put off from having a go and I hope they'll find there's a really friendly atmosphere" John said. "We have some very good soloists in our ranks at the moment but we can always offer good opportunities to more solo singers."

Rehearsal times are Thursday evenings from 7.30pm-9.30pm at Bromyard Road Methodist Church, St John's, Worcester. Rehearsals for the autumn season start on Thursday, September 6.

For further information, contact Lyn Rimell on 01905 820 140 or Philomusica's conductor Linda Parsons on 01452 700 847, or visit www.philomu sica.org.uk.

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