Stage set and voices warmed up for York's inaugural Community Choir Festival
Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road, 28-30 January 2016
The stage is set and finishing touches being added to the performances of eleven top choirs in York, who will be performing this week at Joseph Rowntree Theatre’s inaugural York Community Choir Festival.
The art deco theatre on Haxby Road will welcome local radio presenters Dougie Weake, Adam Tomlinson and Elly Fiorentini as well as eleven community choirs from the region in a three night celebration of choral singing.
York Music Centre’s Tutti Amici, the John Lewis Partnership’s Vocal Vikings, The Macmillan Cancer Care Workplace Choir and South Bank Singers will perform in Thursday night’s concert, hosted by Vale Radio’s Dougie Weake, with a programme ranging from gospel classics to the Mamas and Papas’ hit, California Dreamin’.
Friday night’s concert, hosted by BBC Radio York’s Adam Tomlinson, will see In Harmony perform a set of West End classics, whilst Spirit of Harmony brings the sound of the barbershop to the theatre’s stage, taking us from Amarillo to Kalamazoo and on to the isle of Skye! The evening closes with Cantar, performing choral classics from Ave Verum to Bring Him Home.
Saturday evening’s concert, which will be hosted by BBC Radio York’s Elly Fiorentini, will see four choirs bringing the Festival to a harmonious close, with The Stamford Bridge Singers, 16 piece vocal harmony group Harmonix, and Ladies Barbershop chorus, Main Street Sound. The evening is rounded off by a group that is no stranger to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre stage, York Musical Theatre Company.
“We’re delighted to be joined for our Festival by Dougie, Adam and Elly as hosts for each evening. These three concerts will each be very different, but really showcase the incredible choral talent that we have in York,” comments Fundraising Director, Graham Mitchell. “We’ve already started to receive enquiries from other choirs who are keen to join next year, so we’re hoping that this festival is really well attended, so that it can be another addition to York’s events calendar.”
Tickets cost £9 for one night, £15 for two or £18 for all three evening concerts, available online from www.jrtheatre.co.uk, emailing tickets@jrtheatre.co.uk or by calling 01904 639117. Discounts for groups are available on request.
ENDS
About Joseph Rowntree Theatre
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre is located on Haxby Road in York. The theatre is entirely run by a team of dedicated volunteers, including the board of trustees, backstage crew and front-of-house stewards and managers. The theatre receives no funding from local authority, government or Arts Council England, instead sustaining its activities through fundraising and hire charges for the many touring and local companies who perform within the Art Deco building.
For further media information or photographs, please contact:
Jay Commins
PR Director
Tel: 01904 500698
Email: jay.commins@jrtheatre.co.uk
