26 November 2015

Chant workshop arranged by the Latin Mass Society for Juventutem London

The Latin Mass Society has long been the sponsor of the monthly Sung Masses organised by Juventutem London; this Saturday, thanks to the LMS, the Juventutem Schola will be receiving training from the young professional musician, Graham Neal, a day arranged by the Latin Mass Society's London Director of Music, Matthew Schellhorn.


CHORAL AND GREGORIAN CHANT WORKSHOP
for members of the Juventutem London Schola Cantorum

Saturday 28 November 2015 at 10:00
St Mary, Moorfields

with Mr Graham Neal (tenor)

Programme
10:00 Meet and greet
10:10 Group singing led by Mr John Simmonds; observations made by Mr Graham Neal (repertoire: hymn Rector potens and psalm 73 vv. 1–9)
10:30 Paired lessons begin in 20-minute slots (everyone else observing), i.e.:
10:30 singers 1 and 2 (Nick Hurle and Brynn Binnell)
10:50 singer 3 and 4 (Alex Smith and Richard Hawker)
11:10 singer 5 and 6 (Kitty Malkin and Katrina Madely)
11:30 break
11:40 singer 7 and 8 (David Madeley and John Simmonds)
12:00 Angelus
12:05 Group session with Graham
12:30 Sext (tutti)
13:00 ends

Graham Neal read music at the University of Surrey where he was awarded the Robert Naylor prize for the most meritorious degree recital. During this time he held a choral scholarship at Guildford Cathedral. Graham subsequently studied on the Knack opera course at the English National Opera and as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music. He now studies with Jenevora Williams and Nicholas Powell. Graham has a wide repertoire as an oratorio soloist.  This year he has sung Mahler Symphony No. 8, VerdiRequiem, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle and Bach Mass in B minor.

On the operatic stage, Graham has performed the roles of Don Ramiro, La Cenerentolafor Brent Opera and Opera Loki, Ferrando, Cosi Fan Tutte at Greenwich Theatre, Belmonte, Die Entführung aus dem Serail in Camden, Sextus Julius Caesar at Blackheath Halls, Don José Carmen at Greenwich Theatre, and Worldly Glory Pilgrim's Progress for the Philarmonia at Sadler's Wells, as well as being a chorus member for English National Opera, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Opéra Comique, l'Orchestre des Champs-Elysées and Stanley Hall Opera.

Graham is adept at choral singing, appearing frequently in concert and on recordings. He sings with the Monteverdi Choir, Polyphony, Philharmonia Voices, English Voices, the NDR Chor and Cappella Nova. Recent television appearances have included John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Marathon and Bach: A Passionate Life for the BBC with the Monteverdi Choir.

10 November 2015

Seminar on the rhymed Office of St Magnus

Any readers who happen to be in Orkney next week would be most welcome to come and hear me talk about my reconstruction of the music for the rhymed Office in honour of St Magnus of Orkney.

From the Centre for Nordic Studies website:
Dr Ben Whitworth: 'Rhymes in honour of St Magnus: an echo of medieval Orkney?'
When Nov 17, 2015
from 07:30 PM to 09:00 PM
This seminar will be held at Orkney College. Free entry. All welcome.

Please come!