Music Around

We are very fortunate in our quiet corner of South Warwickshire in having just a few miles away, in Shipston on Stour, two outstanding music societies. I have joined them and enjoy both the listening and performing. Shipston Music Society was founded in 1989. Initially it featured recorded music. From 2002 it has provided ten live performances each year.

On December 11th at the Methodist Church on London Road, Diva Maria Jagusk will sing operatic arias as well as songs from the musicals. Tickets on the door are £5 for non members. Membership costs just £25 for the year with ten free performances which includes The Orchestra of the Swan performing at Townsend Hall. Refreshments are provided and both the church and the Hall provide an excellent acoustic and a delightful venue. The range of music is wide, the audience appreciative and the relative youth, talent and enthusiasm make for a most enjoyable evening .

The Stour Singers founded by Richard Emms forty years ago is celebrating its Ruby Anniversary with a Performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio on 12.December in St Edmunds Church, Shipston on Stour. In addition to the four renowned soloists, there is orchestral backing for the eighty singers. All conducted by Richard.

We rehearse each Thursday from September to December, January to May at Shipston Primary School. There are no auditions and everyone is made most welcome by our part leaders. For £60 a year we have a cosy venue, interesting background talks and scores provided. To help learn our parts Richard provides CDs on which he plays piano notes in place of the Bass or other part. You don't have to be able to read music. I joined the Singers in 2004 and a few weeks after my first Performance as an Alto, an acquaintance described to me the fantastic evening she had enjoyed in Shipston ! I asked her where and when this had taken place. It took me a while to realise that she was referring to the Stour Singers Concert!!

Both of these societies have excellent websites easily accessible by googling their names. Why not sample one if not both?

Ann Holland

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Last modified: January 20, 2016