Newsletter Winter 2009

In the summer AISLING RIDGE was guest artist on a Celtic Cruise performing a mixture of music, song and dance from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. She is now specialising in music theatre and is at present rehearsing for the Imperial College Christmas Review.

ANDRE REFIG is establishing his career in music theatre. In July he appeared in a musical specially written for the Henley Regatta. He is touring Germany playing a Frenchman in a musical in French based on the novel Le Petit Prince. It's hoped to bring the show to London in 2010.

MATTHEW RHODES is rehearsing for a performance of Mozart's Magic Flute to be staged at Glyndebourne on 13th February 2010 in a collaboration between City Music Services, director Howard Charles, and Allen and Overy. Matthew is to sing two small roles, a guard and priest, and will be understudying Monostatos.

In September FIONA KHALASTCHY's second book about London's East End was launched, London Docks. Catharine has assisted with editing and presentation of the accompanying talk which Fiona has already given at a number of London venues. Next date will be at the Guildhall Library EC2 on February 10th 2010 at 2pm.

On Advent Sunday (29th November) JUDY BOOTH mezzo-soprano and DAVID PEDDY tenor were soloists in the Christmas music from Handel's Messiah with the St. John's Wood Chamber Choir which was incorporated into Evensong at St. John's Wood Church, director Michael Cayton.

Successful auditions and re-auditions

ELIZABETH JENKIN has successfully auditioned for the St. Peter's Singers. Their next concert - A Christmas Carol - features music to echo Dickens and is on 13th December at St. Peter's Church, Hammersmith at 7-30pm.

SUSANNAH ROSS has successfully re-auditioned for the Chelsea Opera Group. Their next concert will be Verdi's La Traviata on 21st February at 7pm at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

PATRICIA HOLE, JOANNA SULLAM and MOYRA GREGORY have all successfully re-auditioned for the Bach Choir. Their Christmas Carol Concerts are on 16th December at the Guildhall, City of London and the 23rd December at the Barbican.

Solo singing

JUDITH WARD sings in the choir at the American Church in London who led the music at the Service at St. Paul's Cathedral on Thanksgiving Day. Over Christmas Judith will be singing two solos at the American Church, The First Mercy by Peter Warlock and Hymn to the Virgin by Samuel Barber.

More choral concerts

GABY MOLLOY sings with the Choir of 21st Century who with the English Chamber Orchestra will be performing Handel's Messiah on 2nd December at 7-30pm at the Cadogan Hall in aid of CRISIS.

MIKA MOCHIZUKI and VIVIEN TURNER sing in the London Orpheus Choir. Their Charity Carol Concert is on Friday 4th December at 7pm at St James's Piccadilly.

ANNE VAN DER LEE sings in the Philharmonia Chorus. This year they are giving three Christmas Concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra. On Monday 21st December they are joined by the choir of King's College Cambridge at 7-30pm at the Royal Albert Hall.