Greetings from the Chapter House Choir!
CHOIR NEWS: 17 DECEMBER 2020
Warmest greetings for Christmas and 2021!
We currently have no live concerts planned due to COVID-19, but we look forward to returning to live performances as soon as we can.
The choir continues to meet and run virtually. This autumn we prepared a Virtual Carols by Candlelight concert which was premièred on YouTube and Facebook on Wednesday 16th December to worldwide aclaim! The link is available on social media and on this website. There is no charge to watch the Virtual Carols by Candlelight concert. Those who enjoy the concert are encouraged to make a donation to support the work of York Minster.
Our patrons were invited to join us for a Carols by Candlelight preview on Zoom on Wednesday 16th December, where they could learn how the concert was produced. If you are interested in finding out more about the patrons scheme, please visit our Supporting the Choir page.
We are very grateful to our patrons and members for their ongoing support, and special thanks to those of you who generously donated your March ticket monies towards the choir’s ongoing work.
Many thanks for your understanding and continued support during these difficult times.
Please keep safe and well!
Virtual Carols by Candlelight
Wednesday 16 DECEMBER 2020, 7:30 pm
Online – via the ‘Watch Carols by Candlelight on YouTube‘ button below
Director: Benjamin Morris
Silent Night – arr. Benjamin MORRIS
Saint Ita’s Lullaby – Nicola LEFANU
Past Three O’Clock (Handbells) – arr. Phil REDDING
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – Elizabeth POSTON
The Huron Carol – arr. Eleanor DALEY
Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen – Michael PRAETORIUS/Jan SANDSTRÖM
I saw three ships (Handbells) – arr. Andrew BUNNEY
Ding Dong! Merrily on High – arr. Charles WOOD
Have yourself a merry little Christmas – arr. Peter GRITTON
Our ever-popular and atmospheric ‘Carols by Candlelight‘ has moved online! This year’s concert includes new virtual recordings created by the Choir, alongside highlights of past performances, and set against beautiful footage of York Minster’s Chapter House in candlelight. As ever, we are delighted to include performances new and old by our handbell ringers.
The concert, lasting approximately 30 minutes, was first streamed online at 7.30pm on Wednesday 16th December. You can still watch the concert free of charge – use the button below. We are pleased to be supporting the Minster and its Christmas programme through this very special event, and look forward to welcoming you!
Tickets: There is no charge for this online concert.
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Are you missing our live concerts as much as we are?
Here is a recording of Che fa oggi il mio sole by Marenzio from our sell-out concert in the Chapter House, Treasures of the Italian Renaissance.
Che fa oggi il mio sole
We are recruiting…
We have vacancies in ALL VOICE PARTS to join our lovely choir from 2021 – if you’re a bass, tenor, alto or soprano and you enjoy making music to a high standard we want to hear from you! Unfortunately we cannot hold auditions at the moment due to Covid-19, but please get in touch and we shall take your enquiry further as soon as we can.
Choral Bursaries
There is also a limited number of choral bursaries (one per voice part) available to promising young choral singers aged 18 to 25 in full time education.
Preparing for the March 2020 concert with new commission composer Lillie Harris
Chapter House Youth Choir
The Chapter House Choir is committed to inspiring the next generation of choral singers and to mark our 50th anniversary year in 2016 we launched a new Youth Choir for talented singers aged 13-19. The young singers performed alongside The King’s Singers and The Chapter House Choir in York Minster in their first concert!
More recently, the Youth Choir sang Evensong in Selby Abbey on Sunday 24th March and gave a performance of Joseph Horovitz’s Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo and other songs on Saturday 6 July 2019. They have just performed in November’s Treasures of the Italian Renaissance concert, and in December’s Festival of Carols.
Follow the Youth Choir on Facebook and Twitter
Join Us
Congratulations to the four who auditioned successfully by Skype on Tuesday 24th March! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chapter House Youth Choir will sadly not meet again until September at the earliest. We would like to wish all our members who are leaving us well in the next steps of their life journeys and thank them for their contribution over the last few years! If you know of anyone who might like to audition to join the choir, please encourage them to get in touch by email to youthchoir@chapterhousechoir.org – auditions will be available by video call throughout the summer term.
Next Event
Listen to our Virtual Christmas Carols!
- Away in a Manger, arranged by Reginald Jacques, was released on Friday 11 December 2020
- Sweeter Still, by Eric Barnum, was released on Sunday 20 December 2020
We are hugely grateful to choir member Ed Atkin for mixing the recordings and are sure you will love the results!
