About The Choir

About Us:
The Choir

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      Autumn 2011
      Christmas 2011
      Easter 2012
      History

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About


The Choir Phoenix was founded on the demise of the St. Mary's Singers in 1965 and for over forty years was directed by Richard White, Music Adviser for Shropshire. Depending on the balance between the voices and the need to keep about 40 singers, membership is open to all. Present members include a number of teachers of music as well as numerous instrumentalists together with others with no such qualifications, all bound by a common enthusiasm.
A Comprehensive Repertoire Phoenix have performed most of the major choral works of Bach, Britten, Bruckner, Charpentier, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Purcell, Stravinsky, Poulenc, and Vaughan Williams. Less frequently heard works have ranged from Tallis' magnificent 40 part motet Spem in Alium to the sacred and secular music of Latin America. Soloists are drawn from professional singers both locally and nationally and a number of now-established performers have made early appearances with the choir. Many concerts have featured our own Phoenix Orchestra, Wrekin Brass and other fine instrumentalists. Phoenix have regularly commissioned new works from distinguished composers, most recently Sally Beamish. 2011 saw the award of the inaugural Phoenix Choral Composition prizes, the winner from a large worldwide entry being the very gifted young composer Owain Park.
The Conductor Richard Walker is the musical director for the St. John Passion by J. S. Bach and will continue for the Summer and Autumn seasons. Richard is well known in Shrewsbury, Shropshire and beyond, bringing a wealth of musical experience as a talented organist, choral and orchestral conductor and player. . . . read more