
The Kelvedon Singers now has no connection save their history with the town in which they started nearly 40 years ago. Most of the present members have been singing together for many years, but welcome new members who share their sheer enjoyment of singing. Members come from a wide area of South Suffolk and North Essex and perform in churches and other venues for many different charities. Their repertory is broad: from Elizabethan madrigals and church music to spirituals and jazz. They often perform with instrumentalists and guest soloists and always welcome invitations to new venues. The choir has for many years travelled in the Lot region of France, giving concerts in villages and singing mass at Cahors Cathedral. They were touched when told by an elderly Frenchman that he had been "as near heaven as he expected to be in life" when listening to them. On four occasions in recent years, the choir has also sung the weekend services in Ely Cathedral during the annual vacation of the resident choir.
Their
accompanist Penelope Marsden
lives in Lamarsh and is a Professor of Pianoforte at the Junior
Department of London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a member
of the music selection committee of the Trinity Guildhall examining
board. She also teaches at the Colchester 6th Form College and
accompanies the Colchester Bach Choir. She studied at the Royal College
of Music under Cyril Smith (a recitalist and teacher memorably portrayed
by Sir John Gielgud in the film "Shine"). She met the Kelvedon Singers
when they sang at her wedding in Bures in 1992: a perfect match not
planned for that day.
The
choir's director Christopher Phelps
trained as a chorister and pianist at Gloucester, where he also studied
organ with the famous organist-composer Herbert Sumsion. Chris trained
at the Royal College of Music, going on to win international prizes for
his conducting and working in Armagh, Vienna, Salzburg and Italy. After
many years as Course Tutor and Head of Conducting at Colchester
Institute, Chris now works freelance as a teacher and composer. He has
recently recorded his own orchestral transcriptions of a César Franck
organ work for the ASV CD label, conducting the City of Prague
Philharmonic Orchestra.
Photos taken at St Mary's, Bures 15.4.07
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Requests for membership or information on future performances will be gladly received by Celia Edey; telephone no. 01376 561288 |