Cool to be classical: young musicians with Solway Singers
Cool to be classical: young musicians with Solway Singers
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Mozart’s Operas and Haydn’s Symphonies were the popular music of their day. So-called ‘classical’ music is all too often perceived as elitist, but the success of young talent – for example the Kanneh-Mason family – illustrates that it can be cool to be classical. Organisations such as the Rodolfus foundation encourage young singers and musicians from around the country to come together to produce outstanding choral music, which post-Covid seems to be continuing in popularity.
Likewise, here in Cumbria Solway Singers is not only always keen to recruit more singers of any age, but wants to welcome young singers in particular. Current and recent members include sixth formers who want to study music at University, an organ scholar, and apprentices who don’t want to follow a musical career but who just love singing.
For the Michaelmas term the choir is putting on two concerts: the first, on November 18th, will offer an eclectic programme ranging from Mozart’s Missa Brevis to settings of folksongs by John Rutter and others. Soloists come from within the choir, and the choir’s youngest member will be performing a piano solo.
On December 16th, Solway will then be uniting with the Border Concert Band (a brass band) to put on a more traditional programme of Christmas music: expect carols to sing along to as well as to listen to, and come and have some respite from the last minute Christmas shopping.
Whilst the choir tries to keep costs to a minimum, there is always need for fund-raising. They are therefore also seeking sponsors for the season, which includes a concert in May with a professional brass band. If you would like to sponsor the choir, please contact the chairperson, Janet Madden. In return there are a range of benefits including having your logo featured on their programmes and publicity and receiving two complementary tickets for each concert: they acknowledge the kind sponsorship of the Cumberland Building Society for the last season.
And finally… look out for them singing carols somewhere in Carlisle!
The concerts take place at St. Cuthberts Church, Carlisle on Saturday 18th November and Saturday 16th December: tickets cost £12 (under 18s/full-time students free). They can be booked through https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BWEG, https://www.solwaysingers.org/, or purchased on the door.
Anyone interested in joining the choir, please contact the choir via their Facebook page or website: https://www.solwaysinger.org or https://www.facebook.com/SolwaySingersChoir – or why not come along to a concert and see what you think, and then speak to our Musical Director, Ed Taylor or Chair, Janet Madden
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