Choir Raises Record Funds
Exeter Philharmonic Choir raised
a record £3,654.33 for Macmillan Cancer Support at its
Exeter Cathedral carol concerts on December 12 and
13.The choir topped up the amount raised to £3,700 and
special guest soloist trumpeter Crispin Steele-Perkins
added another £200 through the sale of his CDs.
The choir has performed concerts
in Exeter every year since its foundation in 1846. It
continues to delight audiences under Director of Music
Andrew Millington, who is also Director of Music at the
cathedral.
Geoff Poad, president of the
choir, said: "For almost 20 years, all our carol
concerts have had an exit collection for a nominated
charity to help people in need and in recent years the
emphasis has been placed on local charities.
"We were thrilled with the
amount of money donated for Macmillan - a remarkable
total, as we have generally been taking something over
£2,000 from these events. It shows how strongly people
support Macmillan."
Caroline Grafton-Grattan,
Macmillan's county chairman, said: "My thanks go to
everyone who contributed to such an astonishing
collection which will provide a wonderful boost to all
we are trying to achieve for local people affected by
cancer and their families."
Express
and Echo, Exeter, 4 February 2008 |
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'Show Proves a Big Hit'
'Hundreds of music lovers lapped
up Exeter's last great musical night of the millennium
at the University Great Hall last night. The world
famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra joined with the
city's own Exeter Philharmonic Choir and four soloists
to perform Handel's Messiah before an audience of 1400.'
Express
and Echo, Exeter, 30 December 1999 |
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'A Musical Milestone'
'The historic cathedral was
packed with a capacity audience of around 1000 people to
hear the combined forces of the Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra and the Exeter Philharmonic Choir. Mayor of
Exeter Barry McNamara praised the way the talents of the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra had combined with the home
grown talents of the Choir. "There have been some good
concerts, some very good ones, but this was the cream of
the crop", he said.'
Express
and Echo, Exeter, March 1999 |
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' ... the equal of any
performance of this work (the Brahms Requiem) I have
ever heard, live or recorded, in 60 years.'
Western
Morning News, March 1999 |
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'Brahms could not fail to have
been delighted with the way it was performed here, with
the orchestra and choir combining magnificently... a
concert to cherish.'
Express
and Echo, Exeter, March
1999 | |
A Mozart Performance 'Flamed
with Life'
'Exeter Philharmonic Choir
paired once again with the Sinfonietta to give a
performance that flamed with life and dramatic
intensity.
'Andrew Millington, directing,
kept the choral focus firm and stylish enough for
Mozart; and the pacing was well-judged.
'The work manged to appear both
lyrical and dramatic. The soloists were an excellent
quartet, not only well matched but managing to be
well-contrasted too. They were Harriet Fraser, soprano;
Catrin Johnsson, mezzo; Lynton Atkinson, tenor; Stuart
Young, bass.
'The Sinfonietta, with their
leader Richard Studt, kept to their always high
standards with some fine playing.
Express
and Echo, Exeter, 17 February 2006 |
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'City Singers Impress the
Spanish - and Receive a Unique Honour'
'Concerts in Salamanca Cathedral
and Madrid's Auditorio Nacional included works by
Rodrigo as well as music by British composer Sir Michael
Tippett. The unique award of the Schott Medal which was
presented by the composer's daughter, was an unexpected
surprise for the Choir at a gala dinner to mark the end
of their trip.'
Express
and Echo, Exeter, April 1998 |
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'Choir's Spanish
Celebration'
'A concert trip to Spain by 100
singers of the acclaimed Exeter Philharmonic Choir saw
them broadcast on national radio and presented with a
prestigious award. While there they were presented with
the Schott Medal, an award made for services to the
music of Joaquin Rodrigo, considered to be Spain's
greatest composer. Other recipients include Spain's King
Juan Carlos and the University of Madrid.'
Western
Morning News, April 1998 |
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'Carol Boost for ELF (Exeter
Leukaemia Fund)'
'Exeter Leukaemia Fund's
£500,000 appeal to build a new unit for sufferers of the
disease received an early Christmas Present last night -
thanks to two carol concerts. The second took place in
the Cathedral, where worshippers accompanied by the
Exeter Philharmonic Choir took part in the annual Carol
Concert. During the service collections were made in aid
of the Exeter Leukaemia Fund, raising well over £3000.'
Express
and Echo, Exeter, 15 December 1999
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City choir fills the
Cathedral
'An audience of hundreds filled
Exeter Cathedral for a Christmas concert performed by
one of Exeter's finest choirs.
'The service [sic], held
yesterday and on Wednesday evening by Exeter
Philharmonic Choir, included a varied programme of
traditional and modern carols.
'Pam Poad, choir member, said:
"It went very well, with the whole Cathedral virtually
full and only about four seats left in the nave. We were
very pleased with the performance." 'The choir hopes to raise
thousands of pounds for Exeter-based Honeylands
Children's Centre, in Pinhoe Road, which supports
children with special needs. [Some £2,200 was raised
over the two evenings. Many thanks to all who
contributed for your generosity.]
'The money will go towards the
centre's music therapy fund. The mixed choir of 120
singers was established in 1846.'
Express
and Echo, Exeter, 16 December 2005
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Elijah, 14 April 2005
'This Oratorio is full of drama
and we were certainly given a dramatic performance this
evening! Once again, the singing of this choir was of
very high quality, together with four excellent soloists
and accompaniment...
'The choir responded perfectly
to the sensitivity to text and music shown by the
conductor. My only 'personal' regret was the omissions
of 'Holy, Holy, Holy'. I was looking forward to what I
am sure would have been a marvellous sound in the
Cathedral. However, the Baal choruses and Elijah being
taken to heaven on 'fiery horses' was adequate
compensation!'
Making
Music South West Visitor Report
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Verdi Requiem, 28 April
2004'How can a requiem be
exhilarating?
'If that's the question, the
answer could be found in Exeter Cathedral when Exeter
Philharmonic Choir joined The Sinfonietta under its
leader Richard Studt to produce a heady account of
Verdi's impressive work... 'The choruses were all superbly
sung - the Dies Irae almost overwhelming in its
intensity. Close your eyes and in its heat you could
feel the chill of fear. 'And what an ideal conductor the
performers have found in Andrew Millington, who made
sure that the drama was sustained and that the
performance had the necessary bite...
'The entire work [was]
disciplined and balanced, yet bursting with vitality.'
Express
and Echo, Exeter, 7 May
2004
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