Sarah Jones Sarah Jones

Wayns Weekly 9th June 2025

June 28th concert

  1. Music: With less than three weeks to go, please make sure you take time to get on top of the music, especially the pieces that weren’t sung at Bayeux - i.e. the Chilcott and Les Misérables , as well as those from the Oxford Book of English Madrigals. The full music list can be found in last week’s Wayns weekly (2nd June).

Singalong tracks of the Jazz Madrigals can be found on YouTube here : Bob Chilcott: Little Jazz Madrigals - YouTube

2. Ticket sales: Please do your best to get the word out and about for the concert. Physical flyers and posters will be available again this week. We appreciate that the change of venue to Chandlers Ford means that our regular audience may be less willing to travel, but we have a great programme and the evening will be a lot of fun. If each singer can sell two tickets, we shall have at least have a reasonable audience.

The flyer (click here) can be downloaded for sharing with friends and family, please also share via WhatsApp to suitable groups you are in.

Tickets are available either using the QR code on the flyer or click here to buy tickets: Eventbrite

3. Concert dress: We shall be adopting our usual informal Summer concert dress of coloured tops (plain colours, not patterned, though both black and white count) with full length black trousers or skirts. Sleeves at least elbow length please. More information can be found in the concert information section of the members area.

4. Concert Refreshments: happily, we now have three volunteers to help with post-concert refreshments. We probably do with one more - any offers please to Sarah J sj@luminaconsulting.com

Bayeux trip

Our resident wordsmith Jacki Donnellan has written a wonderful blog about the tour, which can be found in the members’ area under Wayns Augmented. Even if you didn’t go on the trip, it paints an evocative picture of the tour and is well worth a read.

If you came on the trip, please watch out in your emails for a link to a short feedback survey. We are keen to build on the successes of the tour and also take on board any areas for improvement.

That’s it folks, see you on Thursday!

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 2nd June 2025

  1. Bayeux Trip Thanks

    Those of us who have just returned from Bayeux had a wonderful trip with many thanks to Jane Kennedy, Antony Latham, Rosemarie Roberts and Kate Baker. Also thanks to Helen Longworth for her organisational spreadsheets and booklet and to Catharine Tucker for her herding and and register skills!

Thanks to George for his organ playing and good humour and, of course to Andy.

2. Rehearsals and Music for June 28th

These start again this Thursday, 5th June and continue on 12th, 19th and 26th. The music is:

Oxford book of Madrigals and PartSongs (big green book or Booklet 2 from Bayeux )

  • Pearsall : Lay a Garland

  • Campion : Never Weather Beaten Sail

  • Gibbons : The Silver Swan

  • Stanford : The Blue Bird

  • Vaughan Williams: The Cloud-capped Towers

Oxford Book of English Madrigals (little black book)

  • Morley :Sing We and Chant It

  • Bennet: Weep, O Mine Eyes

  • Morley: Fyer, Fyer

Chilcott : Little Jazz Madrigals

  • Sing We and Chant It

  • Weep, O Mine Eyes

  • Fire, Fire !

Medley from Les Miserables

3. Concert Refreshments for28th June

For the concert on June 28th  at Chandler's Ford Methodist Church we are planning to serve non alcoholic drinks and nibbles after the concert, in the Dovetail centre which is part of the church. We need a small team of volunteers willing to take on this task. It will involve buying the drinks and nibbles, possibly hiring glasses, setting up, serving and clearing away afterwards. It would be best if at least one or two people involved are not choir members but are prepared to do the setting up during  the concert. These people need to be over the age of 18.

Please let either Veronica Shaw ( veronica.kshaw@gmail.com )or Sarah Jones

( sj@luminaconsulting.com ) know if you are able to help. Many thanks. 

4. New Member

Let me introduce you to our newest member, newest mum Georgia Wyatt, S1 and newest gran (Sarah Jones S1………see picture on this link.

Congratulations Georgia!

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 12th May 2025

  1. Flyers for 28th June Concert

    Printed flyers will hopefully be available from Thursday 15th May. If you are at the rehearsal, please pick some up and distribute them. We want to sell all the available tickets.

  2. Bayeux Information

    There is a one stop place to access the information we have been given. It will be taken down after the tour. If you go back to the Members’ page, you will find Bayeux Trip 2 places under Wayns Weekly. Click on here and you will find a list of items to click on.

  3. Concert in St Peter’s Church, Ropley - Friday 16th May 7pm

    The Pilgrims’ School Chamber Choir will be presenting a programme of music for boys' voices, including works by Mozart, Schubert, and John Rutter, under the direction of Russell du Plessis with accompanist George Castle.  The choir recently sang in The Nutcracker with English National Ballet and this is a link to an extract of an Ave Maria in 9 parts  that they sang in an Italian tour last summer.

    Tickets are only £10 and the concert will last about an hour  (7pm-8pm) with doors opening at 6.15 and a bar beforehand.

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 7th May - Flyers and Tickets

Sarah Jones has been busy putting together flyers for Bayeux and Chandlers Ford.

  1. Bayeux - French and English Versions

    Click here for the English version and here for the French. Share, if possible.

  2. Summer Concert 28th June

    The flyer is now ready and good for sharing with friends and family. Tickets are now available by either using the QR code on the flyer or by clicking here.

    Please circulate as much as possible and sell tickets!

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 5th May 2025

  1. Tour of Bayeux - Rehearsals

    The next 3 rehearsals (May 8th, 15th and 22nd) are for the Bayeux music. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t come along even if you aren’t going to Bayeux!

  2. Summer Concert -28th June

    The rehearsals for this are on June 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th. Details about the concert, venue, timing etc can be found by clicking here. This will need a fair bit of publicising. More details on this to follow soon.

  3. Waynflete Obit - 11th August 2025

    Please follow this link for information. Sign up sheets coming in June unless you can commit now…..

  4. Rose Road Carols - 18th December 2025

    Early notice I know, but there are some changes this year. Please read information from Heather Aspinall by clicking on this link.

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly - Summer Concert Music

Dear all,

As we all have many music books in play at the moment, there have been several questions about exactly what we will be singing at our concert on June 28th in Chandlers Ford (how many chandlers were crossing the river?).

The aim has always been to get some overlap with the Bayeux music, so we are singing the secular parts of the tour repertoire (out of the Oxford Madrigals and Partsongs green book), supplemented by other music to make it a full concert.  So here is a full list of the pieces, by book.  This may not be the final order for the concert, but at least is a full list.  We will also have some piano interludes from George and Andy during the programme.

Daniel

Oxford book of Madrigals and PartSongs (big green book)

  • Pearsall : Lay a Garland

  • Campion : Never Weather Beaten Sail

  • Gibbons : The Silver Swan

  • Stanford : The Blue Bird

  • Vaughan Williams: The Cloud-capped Towers

Oxford Book of English Madrigals (little black book)

  • Morley :Sing We and Chant It

  • Bennet: Weep, O Mine Eyes

  • Morley: Fyer, Fyer

Chilcott : Little Jazz Madrigals

  • Sing We and Chant It

  • Weep, O Mine Eyes

  • Fire, Fire !

Medley from Les Miserables.

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 29th April 2025

  1. Rehearsal - 1st May

    This is the second of two early rehearsals for the June 28th concert. After that the focus is on the Bayeux trip on 29th May to 1st June. Although all are still welcome to come along to those!

  2. Bob Chilcott’s Little Jazz Madrigals

    For those of you who, like me, struggled with the run through last week, the rhythms being difficult to grasp to say nothing of the notes….! This might help It’s conducted by the composer so I presume it’s pretty accurate. Enjoy and keep listening!

  3. Choir Subs

    Just a reminder that this term’s subs are now due from those members who pay the Concessionary Rate.

  4. June 28th Non Singers

    If you aren’t intending to sing on 28th June could you please let your PART REPS know so they can update the registers. Of course, you can do that yourself if you are coming to the rehearsals.

    It’s important that we know the numbers and your intentions.

    Many thanks.


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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 22nd April 2025

  1. Rehearsals for Summer Term

    Welcome back after that phenomenal Verdi Requiem.

    Rehearsals start again this Thursday, 24th April and next, 1st May, for those going to Bayeux and also those of us singing at the Chandlers Ford Methodist Church on Saturday 28th June.

    Rehearsals on 8th, 15th and 22nd May will be focusing on the music for the Bayeux trip.

    June 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th are for the Chandlers Ford concert.

  2. Notice of a Local Concert

    Please look at this concert flyer

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 5th April 2025

  1. Verdi’s Requiem

    What can I say? Surely one of the best concerts we have had the privilege of singing in all thanks to Andy’s superb direction but also thanks to George and Andy Hayman for their time during the term. I have only heard really positive comments, among which is Derek Beck’s review for the Hampshire Chronicle. Click her to read it.

  2. Thanks to Veronica

    Who put in so much work to ensure all ran smoothly on the day. Coordinating with the Cathedral, BSC and BSO (and others) is no mean feat and she did it with no apparent stress….!

  3. Next Term

    Begins on Thursday April 24th with the Bayeux trip from 29th May to 1st June and our summer concert in the Methodist Church, Chandlers Ford on Saturday 28th June. Andy has asked all those involved in the concert of 28th June to come to the first 2 rehearsals (April 24th and May 1st).

  4. Wayns Weekly

    I’m away for a few weeks so Sarah Jones will ensure that there is at least one of these before the start of the new term. Anything you wish to go here can you please contact Sarah at sj@luminaconsulting.com and then me after 29th April (not Sarah as she is then going away!).

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 31st March 2025

  1. Seating Plan for Verdi Concert

    Veronica has completed the seating plan for Friday’s concert. It is a very full stage and Veronica would like people to tell her if they are NOT singing and have not already told her veronica.kshaw@gmail.com

    Click her to see the plan

    Also if you cannot come to the Friday afternoon rehearsal please can you ask someone to save a seat for you - this is so Veronica knows how many seats are taken.

  2. Friday Afternoon Rehearsal - 1pm to 4pm.

    Veronica will be giving further details on Thursday evening. This will be a crowded rehearsal as all the BSC singers will be joining us.

  3. Programmes

    Programmes, for choir members, will be on sale on Thursday evening at the rehearsal. Payment by card/phone, BACS only. Please restrict yourselves to one copy per choir member as we have a very full house and need to sell as many programmes as possible at the full price of £4. Thank you and thankyou to Chris Town for once again producing an impressive programme.

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 25th March 2025

  1. Bayeux Calling

    All those going to Bayeux should have received emails from Helen Longworth. She will be distributing invoices on Thursday that require a quick turn around in terms of paying - please help the team by paying a.s.ap.

  2. Rehearsals

    There are just 2 more Thursday rehearsals left - yes we are rehearsing the night before the concert (3rd April) - this is when all our extras from the BSC will be turning up.

    Please get to the rehearsals ready to start at 7.30.

    A reminder that there is a rehearsal with the BSO on Friday afternoon (4th April) from 1pm to 4pm). Veronica will be giving instructions soon.

  3. Next Term

    Begins on Thursday 24th April. There will be auditions on 15th May but no Open Rehearsals as we are rehearsing for Bayeux and then our summer concert. Successful candidates will start in September. There will be open rehearsals on 18th and 25th September and a further audition on 2nd October.

  4. Summer Concert - 28th June 2025

    As Daniel told us last week, we are having to move the concert away from the Guildhall. Veronica Shaw has put in a huge amount of work in securing an alternative venue. We will be singing in the Methodist church in Chandlers Ford. It’s easy to get to and there is plenty of parking. This is an opportunity to reach out to a new audience. More details will follow.

    Many thanks to Veronica for getting a resolution so quickly

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 19th March 2025

  1. Rehearsals - Back to Verdi

    Rehearsals from now on are back in double choir seating for Verdi’s Requiem.

    20th, 27th March and 3rd April are all in the Reform Church as usual although our friends from the BSC will be joining us on 3rd April. This may mean that we will have to put out some extra chairs and, should that be the case, we would ask for two or three volunteers to help put them out and return them to the ‘store’ at the end of the rehearsal.

  2. Two Top Price Tickets for Sale

    Peter Mosse, T1, has 2 top price (£50) tickets for sale. He will be at tomorrow’s rehearsal but should you wish to contact him before then, his email address is pjmosse@aol.com .

  3. Summer Concert - Change of Venue - Teaser….

    If you were at last week’s rehearsal, you will be aware that our summer concert cannot be in Winchester Guildhall due to necessary ceiling repairs taking longer than expected. Veronica Shaw has been working extremely hard this week looking for an alternative and has been successful. All will be revealed tomorrow and then placed on this website.

    Very many thanks to Veronica for all the time and effort she has put in to get such a speedy resolution.

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 3rd March 2025

  1. Remaining Rehearsals This Term

    For clarification:

    March 6th and 13th we are rehearsing the Music for Bayeux (part of which will be sung in our June concert). We are keen that as many people as possible some to these rehearsals. George will be in charge! The music is from English Church Music vol 1 and Madrigals and Partsongs.

    March 20th, 27th and April 3rd we are back rehearsing the Verdi. April 3rd will have the addition of our friends from the BSC.

    Friday April 4th - afternoon rehearsal with orchestra 1pm to 4pm in the Cathedral. The concert is at 7.30pm

  2. Ticket Sales

    These are selling well but we need to sell every single ticket - this is an expensive concert!

  3. Registers - Please Sign In

    Please make sure you tick the registers every week. Blanks are assumed to be absences - you may find you are asked not to sing in the concert if you have too many of these………Also if you are not intending to sing in the concert please tell your part rep and please indicate on the register with N/S.

    We need to know numbers and names for 2 reasons; firstly so Veronica can sort out the stage seating and secondly so that your name can be in the programme.

    Thank you

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 24th February 2025

  1. Rehearsals Over the Next Couple of Weeks and for the Summer Term

    Dear All,

    We are making good progress with the Verdi and so, as we discussed at our last rehearsal, we plan to spend 3 weeks getting a head start on next term's music.  Next term we have two events, the tour and our summer concert, and we have arranged overlapping content between the two to maximise participation in rehearsals and to reduce the total amount of music we all need to learn.  The idea therefore is that everyone is welcome, and indeed encouraged, to come to all rehearsals, whether or not you are coming on the tour. 

    You have already heard from Susan Rees about music for next term.

    For France we are using:

    • English Church Music vol. 1: Anthems and Motets (OUP)

    • Madrigals and Part Songs (OUP)

    For the summer concert we are using:

    •  Madrigals and Part Songs (OUP) as above

    • Oxford Book of English Madrigals (OUP)

    • Little Jazz Madrigals – Bob Chilcott (OUP)

    • Medley from Les Miserables – Hal Leonard

    This week we will be starting with the music for the tour, some of which is also for the summer concert, so will need the first two books.  I have been asked exactly what we will be singing and the list is as follows:

    From English Church Music:

    • Anon : Rejoice in the Lord Alway

    • Parsons: Ave Maria

    • Tallis: Loquebantur varlis linguis

    • Purcell: Hear my prayer

    • Purcell: I was glad

    • Howells : Like as the hart

    • Stanford: Beati Quorum Via, Justorum Anima, Coelos Ascendit Hodie

    • Lewis : The souls of the righteous

    • Stainer: God so loved the World

    • Wood: O though the central orb

    From Madrigals and Part Songs:

    • Pearsall: Lay an garland

    • Campion: Never weather beaten sail

    • Gibbons: The silver swan

    • Sullivan: The long day closes

    • Stanford: The blue bird

    • Vaughan WIlliams: The cloud-capped towers

    So that's some fantastic music, and even if you are not coming on the tour should be fun to sing at rehearsals.

    For those picking up music, can you arrive early on Thursday, so we can start reasonably promptly ?  We have a limited supply of English Church Music books, so if you have your own, could I ask you to bring it.  But for the first week at least we will probably focus on Madrigals and Part songs, which are the ones which overlap with the Summer Concert.

    Thanks

    Daniel

    2. Paying for Summer Music

    Kate Baker and Kate Spencer will once again be operating the payment devices so please come prepared to pay with cards/phones. We are now cashless which makes it so much easier for Susan Rees and Kate B.

    The costs are as follows:

    New copies to buy are £18 each

    Hired copies of English Church Music £2 and of the Madrigals £5

    These copies are very heavy and, although Susan has been doing some strength training, she would be very grateful if as many people as possible could pick up their music this week.

    3. Seating

    Will be back as single choir .

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 19th February 2025

  1. No Rehearsal Tomorrow - 20th February 2025

  2. Rehearsals After Half Term

    These start on Thursday 27th February and for the first 3 rehearsals will cover music for both Bayeux and the Summer concert. Susan will be giving out the first 2 books - English Church Music Vol 1 and Madrigals and Partsongs (both OUP) - at this rehearsal, so please bring your cards/phones to pay for hire/buying. We are looking forward to all members joining us.

    I’m attaching two lists. The first is a list of Music for the Bayeux Trip the second is for the Summer Concert on June 28th.

    Daniel will be sending further details soon.

3. Concert Date for Summer 2026 Now Confirmed

Thanks to Veronica Shaw’s perseverance, we can now tell you that the concert for Summer

2026 will be at Turner Sims, Southampton on Saturday June 20th 2026. I have updated

the concert/rehearsal schedule for 2025/26 to be found here.

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 11th February 2025

  1. Half Term Next Week

    A reminder that there is no rehearsal next week - Thursday 20th February. Back again on Thursday 27th February.

  2. Bayeux Payments

    A reminder that the first installment is due on 15th February.

    Payments should be made using internet banking to Waynflete Singers: sort code 20-97-01 account 90926477.

    Subject: ‘Bayeux’

    Treasurer: Kate Baker (A1) kbaker2609@gmail.com  

  3. Mary Harris

    Mary Harris died last week. She was a long standing member of the Wayns and secretary for many years back in the 1970s and 80s. There are very few current Wayns who will remember her but this is for those who did.

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 3rd February 2025

  1. Tickets for 4th April Concert

    The tickets have been on general sale for a week now and are going well but it is vital that we sell every ticket available as this is not a cheap concert! Again this is the link to the flyer and to the concert information.

  2. Rehearsal on the Afternoon of 4th April

    The pre concert rehearsal is from 1pm to 4pm in the Cathedral.

  3. Willie Kendall

    With reference to the WW email I sent, click here to access the list of concerts he sung with the Wayns over the decades (there were almost certainly more than in this list), it’s impressive. A reminder as to how you can make a donation memory of Willie:

    The St John’s charity has created a giving page. If you feel able to donate, your help would be hugely appreciated. You can make a gift online, with gift aid option at www.stjohnswinchester.co.uk/william

    or by bank transfer:

    St John’s Winchester

    NatWest

    Sort Code: 55-81-26

    Account: 94378185

    Mark gifts: William Kendall

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 20th January 2025

  1. Verdi choir priority tickets

A reminder that choir priority booking closes at the end of this week, and public booking will open from Saturday. A massive thank you to the many people who have prebooked tickets – we have had a fabulous response and at the time of writing (Monday 20th) there is only one top price ticket remaining. If you still wish to send in a priority order, please do so as soon as possible to Sarah Jones sj@luminaconsulting.com. The £40 price tickets too are selling fast and will disappear quickly.

For full information, including selling points  for this concert , please see the Wayns weekly of 7th January.

Physical flyers will be available from next week, but in the meantime please don’t forget that you can download the flyer from the website to share with family and friends,  via email , Whatsapp or social media.

2. Bayeux Tour - Details and Payments

As I mentioned at the last rehearsal, plans for the tour are coming together, thanks to lots of work done by the organizing committee.  This will be the first of several updates from me as we get towards our departure on May 29th.

i. We now have a pretty firm agenda / itinerary, which in summary is as follows:

May 29th - travel to Bayeux and check into hotels.  

May 30th - morning tour of the tapestry.  Afternoon rehearsal.  Evening concert in the Cathedral.

May 31st - concert at the American Cemetery.  Group meal in the evening

June 1st - visit to Arromanches and Vers Sur Mer, before travelling on to Caen and home.

We will provide a more detailed itinerary in a little while, but we are trying to balance bring busy enough with being relaxed enough to ensure we all get to spend time with each other and have a bit of a holiday. Particularly on 29th, as those coming from Winchester by coach will have a very early start, we are not planning group activities, but are happy to do so if there is demand.

ii. Payments

But for now, we need to think about payment.  We have already made commitments to hotels and travel is booked.  You have all already paid a deposit, and we will split the remaining payments into two.  The first of these will be due by February 15th and the balance by the end of March.  We have made an allowance in our costings at this stage for the group meal, but final costs and possible exchange rate movements may mean that we have to make small adjustments later.  Helen Longworth has done a wonderful job of working out exactly who owes what and will be handing out personal invoices at the next rehearsal, or by email for those of you who are not physically about.  I know it's fairly short notice for payments, but the tour is fast approaching : please let me know directly if there are any concerns/cash flow issues and I'll see what we can do to help. 

Thanks

Daniel

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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 14th January 2025

  1. A Message from Heather Aspinall re the Rose Road Carols 2024

    This event in 2024 was a great success. 

    Around 50 of the choir signed up this year, and it was a full chapel of supporters for Rose Road.

    Many people have said how beautiful the music was, the choir sounded better than ever, and what a joyful positive programme it was. 

    Mark Williams made inspired choices of music which really worked. We'll not forget the contrasts in the hush of the angel Gabriel, the Rutter skipping to Bethlehem, and those Joy to the World modulations! Mark's tuition and conducting was inspiring and Andy Hayman's playing of the merry organ included a great voluntary at the end.

    The dedication of choir members to this event is exceptional. 

    And this is from Rose Road:

    "I am thrilled to say that this year has been a triumph! We have made £7,426.50… so far.

    So many come to hear the Waynfletes sing. Please do pass the total and our thanks and very best wishes for Christmas to the choir and to Mark and Andrew. As always I thought you were all just wonderful".

    This will really help Rose Road to provide much needed activities and support for the young people and families.

  2. Voice Stock Take for Some S2s and S1s

    A reminder that there is a voice stock take this Thursday for some Sopranos. Please bring last term’s Beethoven and arrive at least 5 minutes before your allotted time. You can access the lists here. Thanks

  3. Open Rehearsals

    These are taking place this Thursday and next, with auditions on 30th January. So far we have 5 sopranos, 1 alto and 1 bass coming. If you know of anyone who might be interested - particularly Tenors, please encourage them to come and visit us.

  4. Tickets for Verdi - a Reminder

    Choir members’ priority ticket booking will be available from 16th -24th January;  please send your requests in from now onwards to Sarah Jones: sj@luminaconsulting.com . We expect this to be a very popular concert and that the best seats will sell out very quickly.

    Public booking will open from  January 25th through the Cathedral box office.

    Ticket Prices:

    • D-O - £50 

    • P-Z - £40

    • AA to HH - £30

    • JJ to PP - £25

    • QQ to back - £20

    • Side Aisles £15.00

      Further details in the WW of 7th January


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Kate Spencer Kate Spencer

Wayns Weekly 7th January 2025 Ticket information

Choir Priority ticket booking for Verdi Requiem Friday 4th April 2025

Choir members’ priority ticket booking will be available from 16th -24th January;  please send your requests in from now onwards to Sarah Jones:  sj@luminaconsulting.com . We expect this to be a very popular concert and that the best seats will sell out very quickly.

Please get in touch with your friends and family and forward them the flyer to drum up support and get your orders in. Click here to find the flyer. You can download it to your own device for sharing via email or WhatsApp.

Public booking will open from  January 25th through the Cathedral box office.

Ticket Prices:

  • D-O - £50 

  • P-Z - £40

  • AA to HH - £30

  • JJ to PP - £25

  • QQ to back - £20

  • Side Aisles £15.00

Due to the augmented size of the orchestra and chorus, the usual front three rows (A-C) will not be available.  There is a very slight possibility that they may be reinstated nearer the time.

A few selling points:

  • This is a rare opportunity to experience one of the greatest choral works ever composed, in one of the most awe-inspiring venues in the UK

  • We are joined by the BSO as well as members of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, so this will be a fabulous performance

  • The Cathedral’s video screens will be in use , with camera work to ensure that wherever sitting,  audience members will be able to have a good view of the unfolding drama.

  • We have a stellar line-up of soloists:

    • Soprano Elin Pritchard:  has sung with ENO, Garsington Opera, mid Wales Opera, the Waynflete Singers(!) and at the Grange Festival amongst many other appearances. Her 2021  performance as Manon Lescaut at the Grange Festival was reviewed in Bachtrack : ‘Elin Pritchard …who is nothing less than sensational. Her performance alone warrants serious efforts to acquire a ticket….Pritchard’s voice was a delight; a warm, gleaming instrument that is supported at the top and is full of colour’

    • Alto Rebecca Affonwy-Jones, who has sung with WNO, Grange Park opera, West Green Opera , the Waynflete Singers (!) and made her BBC Proms debut singing Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Donald Runnicles

    • Uruguayan Tenor Andrés Presno: who has been a Jette Parker Young artist at the Royal Opera House and appeared last summer at Grange Festival Opera to great critical acclaim, reviewed in Opera Today ‘Presno is just as commanding as Cavarodossi with forceful tone and ringing high notes that are not at all forced or strained’. In 2024/25 he will return to Covent Garden,  Opera North and Welsh National Opera… and make his debut with the Waynflete Singers!

    • Bass Ashley Riches, former BBC R3 young generation artist, whose performance appearances include the Royal Opera House, at the BBC Proms, and with the London Symphony Orchestra with Antonio Pappano. He last sung with us in the St John Passion in March 2022, and also in February 2017, with David Owen-Norris conducting.

  • We have Andy Lumsden conducting, in tiptop form !

This is going to be a memorable performance, please do all you can to ensure it is a sellout.

Many thanks

Sarah

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