Joint Concert with our French friends
Sunday 26th May 2024
Saint Andre de L'Eure, Normandie

Another delightful opportunity to visit our French friends in St. Andre. As always we had an outing on our free day, this year to Rouen, followed by a party in the evening.

Our half of the concert in the church of St. Andre comprised:

Two pieces from our February concert of the theme of roses
"Dirait-on" from Lauridson's Chansons des Roses which we had also sung in February.
A Beatles medley.. This was very well recieved
Deep river, a spiritual
Blue Moon

Craig Lawton and Rosie Woods shared the conducting.

New year concert
Saturday 3rd February 2024

"Les chansons des roses" by Morten Lauridsen, with its haunting harmonies and sung in French, was the final piece in the concert. It was preceded by three shorter works of various provenance, all on the theme of roses.

The first half was devoted to two works by Felix Mendelssohn, it beng his 215th birthday on the date of the concert. "Hear my prayer", better known for its inclusion of "Oh for the wings of a dove", opened the concert, followed by a longer work, his "Christus"

We were also treated to two of Mendelssohn's instrumental works, his Fugue in D and extracts from his Song without words. The former was meant to be an organ duet, but the organ developed a technical fault on the night and it had to be played on the piano. The organ was also meant to accompany the Christus, but again the piano was brought into service.

Our charity this year was NO LIMITS which offers free advice and help to children and young people in Southampton and Hampshire

Reflections on Peace
Saturday 11th November 2023

Now becoming an annual event on the nearest Saturday to 11th November.
Actually on the 11th this year.

This year we remembered both the war in Ukraine and the and the Israel/Palestine conflict. Will peace ever come to those troubled lands?

A retiring collection was taken for Basic Banks.

Triennial Anglo-French Concert
Saturday 20th May 2023

After an enforced break because of the pandemic it was a delight to welcome our French friends for a joint concert in Southampton.

In the first half the French choirs presented a wide range of songs in various languages (but not French!!). We stuck to English with light hearted pieces, inluding works by John Rutter, Burt Bacharch and Paul Simon and a couple of nursey rhymes in the style of classical composers.

We sang three joint pieces in conclusion, the Humming Chorus from Madam Butterfly (no language skills needed), Verdi's Va pensiero from Nabucco (in Italian) and Champs-Elysee (in French of course) which the French choirs have introduced us to before.

As an encore (and not in the programme) we spread ourselves out around the church and sang "Tibie Paiom" (in Russian), an chant from the Russian Orthodox church which had becomec quite a favourite of ours. It was a very moving finale.

New year concert
Saturday 11th February 2023

We sang three three works, all on the theme of love (it was near St. Valentine's day)

A piece by Clara Schumann

A collectipn of love songs by Johannes Brahms

A cycle of folk songs by John Rutter

The first two were in German which many in the choir found difficult.

Our charity for this year was Southampton Basic Banks, providing emergency food and clothes for those in need

Reflection on Peace
Saturday 12th November 2022

Another concert on the theme of peace, featuring a mix of songs and readings.

Our collection was for the Campaign agaist the arms trade

Summer Concert
Saturday 2nd July, 2022

A world premier of "The Pilgrim Fathers" by Andrew Wilson

Written to mark the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from Southampton in 1620, this should have been performed in 2020, but Covid intervened. We held a number of workshops to which members of the public were invited, and the work was peformed by this augmented choir and accompanied by a string quintet plus piano.

The evening was a great success. The composer Andrew Wilson was able to attend in person to hear his work being performed for the fisrt time, and as he was happy so were we.

The other half of the concert was a selection of short pieces, all with a nautical theme, including Ave Maris Stella by Dvorak and the hymn Eternal Father Strong to save, in which latter the audience were invited to join

As in our February concert, our chosen charity for the year was the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Grup.

New Year Concert
Saturday 12th February 2022

Wonderful to be performing again after a two year break.

Our main piece was Vivaldi's Gloria, and also music by Bach, Franck, Mendelssohn and Faure. For much of this we were accompanied by a small orchestra comprising cello, oboe, trumpet and organ, and we were pleased to invite two soloists to sing in the Gloria.

By contrast we also sang four pastoral part songs, the composers spanning several centuries, and Chris Bluemel entertained us with a Chopin nocturn.

This years supported charity was the Southampton and Winchester Visitors' Group, which provides help and advice to asylum seekers and refugees.

Reflections on Peace
Saturday 13th Novemember 2021

This year we decided to focus on peace rather than remembrance of war. A miscellany of songs and readings about reconciliation and hope.

There was a collection for the Peace Pledge Union, symbolised by the white poppy which appeared on our poster alongside the traditional red.

New Year Concert
Saturday 8th February 2020

As the poster suggests, this concert featured mainly works by Mozart. The second half was devoted to two of his religious works, his Trinity Mass and the song "Sancta Maria, mater Dei", which we found very difficult at first but was a lovely piece to sing once we had mastered it.

In a lighter mode the first half comprised a selection of pieces from opera choruses and the great choral classics. Altogether in this concert we sang in five different languages, Latin, French, German, Italian and of course English.

By way of contrast Chris Bluemel, our accompanist, performed a piano sonata by Beethoven.

The chosen charity for this year was Southampton Sunday Lunch Project.

 

Summer Concert
Saturday 15th June 2019

Haydn's Little Organ Mass was our main piece, but the programme also included some Italian Motets, English Glees, two jazzy works and a fun piece in the style of Mozart.

A mixed bag

We also enjoyed listening to the Second Wind Saxophone Quartet again.

In line with our new policy of supporting one charity each year, the concert was sung in aid of KEY CHANGES again.

Joint Concert with our French friends
Sunday 5th May 2019
Saint Andre de L'Eure, Normandie

Another wonderful joint concert in which we sang in the first half and the French in the second, finishing with two pieces sung by the combined choirs (in French).

Our contribution included:
Two Italian motets from the 16th century
Three 18th century secular part songs
Two classic popular songs by Fats Waller and Cole Porter
A reprise of Mr Blue Sky from our Winter concert
and a light hearted take off of music by Mozart

Conducted as usual by Craig Lawton and Rosie Woods
 

Winter Concert
Saturday 9th February 2019

Our linguistic skills were tested as well as our musical ones as our programme encompassed four different languages. The programme was varied as usual and comprised the following:

Madridal - FAURE
O Magnum Mysterium - VICTORIA
German mass - SCHUBERT
Mr Blue Sky - LYNNE
Sure on this shining night - LAURIDSEN
Schilflied - HENSEL
I'm beginning to see the light - ELLINGTON et. al.

The Second Wind Saxophone Quartet also performed for us, adding variety to the programme.

Sung in aid of KEY CHANGES, a Hampshre based music therapy service

Conductor Craig Lawton.

A Concert for Peace
Saturday 10th November 2018

On 100th anniversary of the ending of the first world war.

The format was similar to last year's concert.

Summer Concert
Saturday 9th June 2018

Mozart's Mass in C major, also known as the "Sparrow Mass" on account of a bird like tweeting on the organ during the credo, gave our musical director the idea of a ornithological theme for the concert.

Other pieces featuring references to birds were:
O swallow swallow - HOLST
Fly singing bird - ELGAR
The silver swan - GIBBONS
Lullaby of birdland - SHEARING
The blue bird - STANFORD

We also sang RUTTER's setting of All Things Bright and Beautiful, and The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book, whose association with birds was a little tenuous.|

We were also pleased to welcome "Flutes Legeres" who added variety to the programme with their flutes and guitar.

Proceeds were in aid of TWO SAINTS, a Southampton charity providing support for the homeless.

Conductors Craig Lawton and Rosie Woods

Southampton and Eastleigh Choral Festival
Saturday 12th May 2018

As last year, a small group of us took part

Winter Concert
Saturday 10th February 2018

Our main piece was Vivaldi's Gloria in D, with which we concuded the concert. This was supported by a number of shorter pieces as follows:

Come ye sons of art - HENRY PURCELL
The Sailor Lad - Welsh traditional
Night herding song - American cowboy song
Oh Peter, go sing dem bells - spiritual
Since first I saw your face -THOMAS FORD
Weep O mine eyes - JOHN BENNET
The seal lullaby - ERIC WHITACRE
Singing in the rain - NACIO HERB BROWN
Irish Blessing - Traditional, arr. BOB CHILCOTT

The Southampton Brass Ensemble also entertained us, as also did our accompanist Chris Bluemel

Sung in aid of the ROSE ROAD ASSOCIATION

Conductors Craig Lawton and Rosie Woods

A Concert for Peace
11th November 2017

Performed on Armistice day, a miscelleny of songs and readings reflecting the destructive nature of war and the hope for peace.

Entrance free, but a collection was held for UNICEF

Southampton and Eastleigh Choral Festival
10th June 2017

Conchord Singers appeared alongside many other local choirs, in a wonderful day of friendship through music

Triennial Anglo-French Concert
Saturday 27th May 2017

Welcoming our two sister choirs from Normandy

Doublecroche et Contrepoint, and La Chorale de Nonancourt

Conducted by Patrick Serot

sang a range of French songs from 17th century classics through folk songs to songs from films and shows

Conchord Singers

Conducted by Craig Lawton

presented a selection of English and American songs from 18th century glees to 20th-century jazz classics

The three choirs together, arranged around the audience, sang Bortnianski's moving song of praise, Tibie Paiom, and the first movement of Vivaldi's Gloria. The concert finished with an encore, when choirs and audience sang the French version of 'Down Waterloo Road' - Aux Champs Elysees

Profits from this concert were donated to the Southampton Churches' Rent Deposit Scheme, which helps people who have been homeless to get back onto their feet and off the streets, with small cash loans, advice and contacts.

Winter Concert
Saturday 11th February 2017

Musical Director Craig Lawton

with Northwood Strings playing Passcaglia by Frescobaldi

Main work: Bach's Magnificat in D with Northwood Strings and members of the Winchesrer Chamber orchestra accomanying

also pieces by Gustav Holst, Peter Warlock, Gerald Finzi, Bob Dylan and Cy Coleman, and accomapanist Chris Bluemel playng Gershwin

sung in support of Mayfield Nurseries Horticultural Therapy Project, supporting people with health issues and other needs

Christmas Concert with Northwood Strings
10 December, 2016

A selection of Christmas music played by the Northwood Strings

Three Carols sung by Conchord Singers

Adam Lay Ybounden - arr Howard Skempton

It came upon the midnight clear - American tune, Richard Storr

In dulci jubilo - arr Bob Chilcottt

Conducted by Craig Lawton

Summer Concert
Saturday 11th June 2016

ON THE THEME OF LIGHT

Maim work: Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna.

and other pieces on the theme of light from the 17th to the 21st centuries


Sung in aid of Mayfield Nurseries Horticultural Therapy Project

Winter Concert
23rd January 2016 

CONCHORD AT 30

2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the first time Conchord Singers sang under our present name. The programme included some of our best loved pieces and reflected some of our best performances

McDOWELL - AVE MARIA STELLA

and some of our best loved pieces from the past, including a selection of European folk songs, English pastral songs by Ralph Vaughan William, Gustav Holst, John Ireland, and peace songs
 Also featurig the Southampton Brass Ensemble

The concert raised funds for The Society of St James, a logcal organisation working to support the homeless in Southampton

Carols with Northwood Strings
12th December 2015

St. Alban's Church, Tulip Road, Southampton SO16 3BB

BERLIOZ - THE SHEPHERDS' FAREWELL

JACKSON - HUSH MY DEAR

CHILCOTT - arrangements of AWAY IN THE MANGER and GOOD KING WENCESLAS

and various other carols

Summer Concert
13th June 2015

PROGRAMME - MUSIC WITH A PURPOSE

HANDEL - Coronation Anthems
WAGNER- Wedding March from Lohengrin
PURCELL - Funeral Sentences for Queen Mary
GOODALL - The Lord is my Shepherd
DOWLAND - Come again sweet love; Away with these self-loving lads; Flow not so fast ye fountains
DEBUSSY - Three songs of Charles d'Orleans
COPELAND - I bought me a cat

with music by the Southampton Brass Ensemble

Sung in aid of 'Sing for Syria, a nationwide fund-raising event by Unicef to help fund their humanitarian work with the thousands of displaced children both inside Syria and as refugees in the neighbouring region, which is now in its 5th year.

Winter Concert
24th January 2015

Mozart - Vespers

Thomas Tallis - Nine Psalm Tunes

Anton Bruckner - Locus Iste, Os Justi

Gustav Holst - There was a Tree

The Mozart Vespers was to have been accompanied on the organ by our long-time friend and associate Alban Rees-Jones. Instead we mourned his untimely death the previous week. We will miss him sorely, as will many musicians, choirs and students throughout the Southampton area, where he played a major role as organist, accompanist to many choirs, and unmistakeable presence. In his memory, our conductor, Craig Lawton played organ pieces by two of Alban's favourite composers, Elgar and Bach.

This concert was sung in aid of 'Where there's a Will' a Southampton Charity which raises funds to enhance the follow up and rehabilitation services available to patients of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Southampton General Hospital.

Reflections on War
on the centenary of the start of world war 1
1st November 2914

KARL JENKINS - CHORAL SUITE from THE ARMED MAN - A MASS FOR PEACE

plus a selection of Songs and readings on the themes of peace and war.