Leatherhead Choral Society is a friendly and sociable amateur mixed voice choir of about 60 singers (non-auditioned), based in the town of Leatherhead, Surrey. We were founded in 1928 and perform two major concerts a year in addition to our annual appear...  moreLeatherhead Choral Society is a friendly and sociable amateur mixed voice choir of about 60 singers (non-auditioned), based in the town of Leatherhead, Surrey. We were founded in 1928 and perform two major concerts a year in addition to our annual appearance at the Leith Hill Musical Festival in the Spring, as well as regular Christmas charity concerts and other activities.  

The first of three settings of text from the Odes of Solomon. The Odes of Solomon are believed to have been written around the year 100 A.D., and include strong parallels to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Scholars have debated whether the Odes should be consid...  moreThe first of three settings of text from the Odes of Solomon. The Odes of Solomon are believed to have been written around the year 100 A.D., and include strong parallels to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Scholars have debated whether the Odes should be considered Jewish, Christian or Gnostic, and whether they were first written in Greek, Hebrew or Syriac. Early Christian writings refer to and quote from them. A Syriac manuscript containing the text of most of the Odes was discovered in 1909 by the English scholar J. Rendel Harris, and other partial texts in various languages have also been found. There are 42 Odes. Some fragments are still missing from Odes I and III, and no part of Ode II has yet been found. For these choral settings, I selected text from four of the Odes of Solomon which I found particularly compelling. The anonymous translation I have used comes from The Gnostic Society Library.  less

As part of my 2017 www.communtiesinharmony.com blog project.  I'm featuring one choir from each of the 50 states and highlighting the ways in which community choruses are changing the world one community at a time.  This week, I'm feat...

This year in Denmark we are so lucky to host the world’s biggest music competition: the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. We work under the tagline #JoinUs and aim to invite everyone to join us and celebrate the music at the Eurovision in May.   ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There is always room for improvement, whether you’re a singer, a choir leader, a choral arranger, a workshop leader or a choir committee member...

MESSIAHHope and Salvation: the meaning of Handel's masterpieceby Stephen Thornton Handel’s Messiah is performed by thousands of choirs and choral  societies across the world every year. The music is sublime, but how  often do the singers ...

Ocean of Illusions - Track 1 of the album "Songs of Sorrow" by Bill Heigen. More: www.billheigen.com Drowning Surrounded by a sea of skyscrapers The numbers are my frowning time takes away my breath Every minute I am drowning The view from u...  moreOcean of Illusions - Track 1 of the album "Songs of Sorrow" by Bill Heigen. More: www.billheigen.com Drowning Surrounded by a sea of skyscrapers The numbers are my frowning time takes away my breath Every minute I am drowning The view from up here is gorgeous But I cannot see any beauty All I see is an ocean of illusions In which greed makes life draggy Few people can realize That a smile is nothing more than teeth A hand-shake is nothing more than skin And on this ocean of illusions we keep going Because we need to feed our fears And give birth to more problems That should not exist. I wish I could be stronger I wish I could be brave I wish I could have wings to fly away But I am just a fish Swimming to survive Waiting for the moment to die.  less

Now in its 12th year, Play It Forward presents Australia's most exciting Singers Festival for all school & community choirs and individual singers. Melbourne International Singers Festival has an even bigger and more diverse program over this King’s...

The Oratorio Society of New York, the second oldest cultural organization in New York City, has been part the city's musical life since 1873. The Society's 200 members come from all walks of life to volunteer their time for the joy of making music togethe...  moreThe Oratorio Society of New York, the second oldest cultural organization in New York City, has been part the city's musical life since 1873. The Society's 200 members come from all walks of life to volunteer their time for the joy of making music together. In addition to its concert programs, the Society works to further oratorio singing and provides young singers with the opportunity to advance their careers through the annual Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition.  

On Saturday 8th March 2014 the Taunton Deane Male Voice choir joined us for a concert in Weston-super-Mare. Proceeds from the event were in aid of the Weston Hospicecare charity which celebrates its 25th birthday this year.