Wolverhampton Chamber Choir

Wolverhampton Chamber Choir....	Director....	Repertoire....

A SYNOPSIS OF THE CHOIR'S HISTORY

Formally known as St Michael's Chamber Choir until September 2005, the present choir of 32 singers was founded in September 1974 by Robin Bowman, an Oxford Organ Scholar, who was then the Choirmaster and Organist at the church of St Michael and All Angels,Tettenhall,on the outskirts of the city of Wolverhampton, in central England, where the choir still rehearses each Sunday evening at 8 pm.

During his time the choir took part in a BBC broadcast and televised 'Songs of Praise' and made its first record in 1976.

The most ambitious work undertaken during his 5 year stay was Monteverdi's 'Vespers' with authentic instruments. Taking part in that performance was 18 year old Robert King, who was frequently associated with the choir in those days, being a native of Wolverhampton, and whose edition of the work was performed, along with his now famous King's Consort.

His successor at the church, which had had a long standing music tradition, was Stephen Carleston, a former choirboy at St John's College, Cambridge and also an Oxford Organ Scholar. He furthered the choral traditions that had been set, and had his own choral music published during that time and wrote music for the choir, including 'A Hymne to God the Father' for Soprano solo and chorus.

The Inter-denominational choir gives three concerts a year and sings at other musical events. The choir regular sings in neighbouring churches, cathedrals and abroad.

Geoffrey Weaver is a freelance musician whose busy schedule of conducting, examining and lecturing takes him all over the British Isles and abroad, including Australia, Canada, USA, Poland, Cyprus,the Philippines,Pakistan, Kenya, Estonia and recently Hong Kong. He is a former Cathedral organist and choirmaster, and a former Director of The Royal School of Church Music.

He is the choir's longest serving Musical Director, which he took over in 1990. Since then he has greatly extended the repertoire of the choir with varied styles and a contrasting selection of music including more frequent introductions of lighter hearted music. In recent years he has conducted the choir in places far and wide, including the continent.

Larger works to be sung under his baton have included
Bach's Mass in B Minor, the Passions of St John and St Matthew,
Vespers of Monteverdi and Rachmaninov,
Durufle Requiem,
Kodaly's Jesus and the Traders,
Mozart's Mass in C
Handel's Dixit Dominus
and the challenging "Mass for Double Choir by Frank Martin

Music on the lighter side has included
Spirituals and Madrigals,
Horrowitz Summer Sunday,
Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore, Trial by Jury and the
Teddy Bears Picnic.

Wolverhampton Chamber Choir....	Repertoire....	Director....