Tickets are being snapped up for four summer evening choral concerts at Bath Abbey in June and July. The series of concerts is in support of the Abbey’s Footprint Project and all money raised, including ticket sales, will automatically be doubled thanks to the Brownsword Charitable Foundation, which is match-funding all donations to Footprint.
The family-friendly events are open to the whole community and will feature the combined choirs of Widcombe Junior School and Weston All Saints Primary School on 7 June, the Summerhill Singers from Kingswood School on 14 June, the Melody Makers of Bath Abbey on 28 June, and the Aquae Sulis Chorale on 12 July. All four concerts take place on Fridays at 6.30pm and last an hour.
They will be singing beautiful choral music by composers such as Britten, Dove, Muhly and many more. The Aquae Sulis Chorale is a chamber choir made up of local professional and semi-professional singers, and will sing some much-loved favourites including Zadok the Priest by Handel, Parry’s I was Glad, Stanford’s Blue Bird, Tippet's Five Spirituals (from A Child of our Time).
All four choirs are led by Bath Abbey’s Assistant Director of Music, Shean Bowers who said: “We have a fantastic tradition of choral singing here at the Abbey so it is wonderful to be able to share this with the wider community. Each choir brings their own style and passion for singing and is sure to delight audiences in equal measure.
“Many of the singers have fond memories of or a connection with the Abbey. The school choirs are part of the Abbey’s Schools’ Singing Programme, while the Melody Makers who are the Abbey's youngest choir of 6-11 year olds regularly sing here. So they have an added incentive for helping to raise funds for the Footprint project. While the whole of the Footprint project is very exciting and will bring many benefits to the Abbey, as musicians, what we really are looking forward to most is the Song School. Once completed, this will provide the Abbey with a brand new choir space which will be home for the Abbey’s choirs and where musicians who come to perform at the Abbey can rehearse and be made welcome.”
All money raised from the concerts, including ticket sales, will automatically be doubled thanks to the Brownsword Charitable Foundation, which is match-funding all donations to the Abbey’s Footprint project.
Andrew Brownsword said: “The Abbey plays a vital role in the city, making a significant impact on those who live, work and visit Bath. Many people feel a connection with the Abbey, whether through worship and prayer, its beautiful music or architecture, or simply by popping in for a few moments of quiet. The Footprint project is essential in ensuring the Abbey is able to carry on these contributions to city life; as the city of Bath grows and changes, so must the Abbey.
“We can see from the huge amount of care and work that has already gone into the first stage of the Footprint project, that this programme of change will maintain, make the most of and improve this magnificent building and its resources. We feel now is the right time to offer our support so that we can inspire other individuals, businesses and trusts to help this ground-breaking project that is much needed in order for the Abbey to continue to inspire and bring lasting benefits to future generations.”
The Abbey’s Footprint project is a £19.3 million programme of work, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, that will provide new spaces for learning, music and interpretation, better visitor facilities, undertake essential conservation work, as well as opportunities for volunteer and community involvement. Work is currently taking place in the Abbey itself to repair the collapsing floor and install the innovative, eco-friendly underfloor heating system, and in the underground vaults and Kingston Buildings to provide new facilities and spaces. It will secure the Abbey’s physical future and improve its hospitality, worship and service to the city.
Tickets for the Summer Evening Choral concerts at Bath Abbey on 7 June, 14 June, 28 June and 12 July are available from Bath Box Office: £10 Adult, £5 Child/Concessions.
