SING: Monteverdi and Mussorgsky at St Mary’s - 2019 Choral Workshop on Saturday July 20th

Since I became organist at St Mary’s Northchurch, we have held an annual choral workshop in the church, attracting singers from across the locality to share a day of wonderful music making and to sample the generous hospitality of members of the church community. Richard Grylls has directed most of these events with his fantastic blend of enthusiasm, charisma and musicianship. I am delighted that he will be returning on July 20th to direct ‘Sing: Monteverdi and Mussorgsky’.

It has been a historic few months at St Mary’s, with the repair and restoration of the roof this year, the last of the scaffolding coming down just after Easter. The lead has been replaced over the nave and north aisle with a new stainless-steel roof, this preventing any further water ingress into and damage to the organ, but fundraising continues in order to pay off the outstanding bills! All profits from the workshop will go towards this.

The music at this year’s choral workshop will include Monteverdi’s Beatus vir and Mussorgsky’s St Nicholas Mass. The latter is a new work, a setting of the Latin mass by Philip Lane to some fabulous but little sung choruses from a number of works by Mussorgsky. The demanding accompaniment will be tackled by our brilliant accompanist for the day, Jonathan Lee from St Peter’s Berkhamsted. He will be playing the organ continuo in the Monteverdi and we hope, a short organ solo! There will also be some unaccompanied choral works by other Italian and Russian composers to inspire and challenge our singers.

Please note the date and sign up to sing or let us know if you’d like to attend the culmination of the workshop at 6.30pm and supper afterwards.

Enquiries and booking: music@stmary’snorthchurch.org.uk

Jenny Hoare

Organist and Choirmaster