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Bristol Bach Choir

Musical Director Gavin Carr

"Two of the biggest hits of the evening were William Llewellyn's exciting arrangement of Ding Dong Merrily On High and In Dulci Jubilo which the choir sang skilfully and with broad smiles on their faces." (Gerry Parker, Bristol Evening Post)
Carols & Readings, St George's Bristol, December 2008

"... This was a very fresh interpretation which had moments of drama from the singers, especially in the Hallelujah Chorus. This well-disciplined choir made light work of His Yoke Is Easy and the haunting Since By Man Came Death whilst Gavin Carr's intelligent direction helped this to be a successful occasion..." (John Packwood, Bristol Evening Post)
Handel Messiah, Bristol Cathedral, March 2009

2008/09 Season

This season is one of change for the choir. After ten years in charge, Peter Leech stood down as our music director in December 2008. We are delighted to welcome Gavin Carr as his replacement. Gavin has the challenging task of helping the choir consolidate the tremendous strides made under Peter’s leadership as well as seeking fresh challenges under his direction.

2009 is the 250th anniversary of the death of Handel – an excuse, if we ever needed one, for the choice of the Messiah as the first work to be performed under Gavin Carr's leadership. As anticipated, the reaction to this performance of Handel's best-loved work was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

In May, under the inspiring baton of Gavin Carr, we held our ever-popular Workshop, this year exploring the fabulously attractive and sonorous Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen, together with his justly famous O Magnum Mysterium.

Our final concert of the season, "Kings and Kaisers", will be be conducted by the Choir's President, the well-known BBC presenter and ex-King's Singer Brian Kay. The concert programme traces the remarkable influence of Bach and Purcell in the great choral traditions of Germany and England, and also highlights the connections and influences of the German nineteenth-century composers on the music of the renascent English school headed by Stanford and Parry.

Our season finishes with a tour to Dresden where we hope to re-create some of the excitement of our concert last season when we celebrated music from the wealthy and powerful court of Dresden in the 18th century.

We warmly invite you to join us in our season of music making. As always we welcome new Patrons and a telephone call (01453 811723) or e-mail to our Patron’s Secretary will advise you of the benefits of becoming one of our valued members.

CHOIR VACANCIES

Are you looking for an exciting musical challenge? We are looking to recruit tenors and basses with good music-reading skills.

This well-known Bristol-based chamber chorus enjoys European Tours, television and radio appearances, and eagerly awaited concerts in the major venues across the South West. Our new Music Director, international baritone and conductor Gavin Carr, takes the choir forward into the new millennium with energy and inspiration, and looks to build upon the remarkable legacies of previous conductors.

For further information contact the membership secretary Jeanne Simpson on 0117 9755887