Lord Mayor's charity concert announced
In celebration of its 170th anniversary season, Exeter Philharmonic Choir has announced the city’s first ever Lord Mayor’s Concert to be performed at Exeter Cathedral on October 22.
It will feature popular choral oratorio, Handel’s ‘Messiah’, which includes the well-known Hallelujah chorus.
The choir’s Director of Music, Andrew Millington said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Lord Mayor’s office to make this event a celebration of the wonderful city of Exeter.
“The whole choir is really keen to perform the Messiah, not only because it is a real crowd pleaser and a big favourite with the singers, but also to mark the fact that it was the very first piece the original choir sang all those years ago.”
A special ‘Exeter Chamber Orchestra’ is being put together by musician Julie Hill for the concert, comprising 21 professional locals with 15 string players, two oboes, a bassoon, two trumpets and timpani. The orchestra will be led by Brenda Willoughby who taught at Exeter School for many years, and principal trumpet is Brian Moore, an Exeter music teacher who runs various ensembles including Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra.
The Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Cynthia Thompson will preside over the performance. Cllr Thompson has a strong affinity with classical music having studied piano at Trinity College of Music in London under the Czechoslovakian concert pianist Madame Eva Bernathova, later gaining a diploma in music. During her career she has worked as a peripatetic music teacher in various schools and colleges around the country. She said:
“I am delighted the Exeter Philharmonic Choir are supporting the Lord Mayor’s charity with the music of Handel, and I am looking forward to attending the concert.”
Money raised from the retiring collection will be donated to Cllr Thompson’s chosen charity, the Devon Freewheelers. The charity provides an essential, free out-of-hours service to the NHS, delivering blood samples, medication and other medical supplies to hospitals across the region and further. The team is also now trained as first responders, so they can give emergency medical help if they arrive at an incident ahead of the ambulance.
As a non-profit organisation, Exeter Philharmonic Choir is seeking sponsors for this inspirational concert, to help meet costs of hiring the Cathedral, the orchestra and individual soloists. If your business would like to be involved and enjoy VIP privileges at the event, including a reception at the Royal Clarence Hotel, please contact Sue Cade on 07850 642102 or email sue@intherightorder.co.uk.
Information about purchasing tickets is available on the choir’s website www.exephil.org.uk
