Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society


Concerts in the 21st Century

25-Mar-00: VERDI Requiem ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Nancy Yuen (S), Kathryn Turpin (M Sop), Paul Badley (T), John Fletcher (B) with Jeremy Dibb (conductor 4 trumpets) and Beauchamp Sinfonietta at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa - Joan Wood Memorial Concert

10-Jun-00: COLERIDGE-TAYLOR Hiawatha's Wedding Feast and HAYDN Nelson Mass ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Klara Gellert (S), Alison Kettlewell (M Sop), Declan Kelly (T), Simon Neal (Bt) with Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

25-Nov-00: MENDELSSOHN Elijah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Rachel Nicholls (S), Diana Moore (M Sop), Jon English (T), John Noble (B) with Semi Chorus - St Mary's Girls' Choir and Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

12-Dec-00: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Åsa Johannson (S), Catherine Bonello (A), Neil Williams (T), Alexander Poulton (B) with Colin Druce (organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

24-Mar-01: STRAVINSKY Symphony of Psalms and Two motets - Ave Maria & Pater Noster, SCHUBERT Mass in E flat and "Unfinished" Symphony ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Linda Gerrard (S), Hyacinth Nicholls (M Sop), Philip Slane (T), Martin Robson (Bt) with Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

09-Jun-01: ROSSINI Petite Messe Solennelle ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Diane Atherton (S), Jennifer Higgins (M Sop), John Bowley (T), Christopher Foster (Bt) with Colin Druce (piano) and Charles Matthews (harmonium) at Kingsley School Hall, Leamington Spa

17-Nov-01: BEETHOVEN Choral Fantasia and Piano Concerto No. 5, MOZART Coronation Mass and HAYDN Insanae et Vanae Curae ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Gillian Flinter (S), Hilary Fisher (C), Jeffrey Cresswell (T), Andrew Mayor (B) with Charles Matthews (piano) and Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

18-Dec-01: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Debbie Bennett (S), Catherine Bonello (M Sop), Sean Clayton (T), James Jones (B) with Colin Druce (Organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

23-Mar-02: VERDI Stabat Mater, DURUFLE Requiem, WIDOR Organ Symphony No. 6 and KODALY Missa Brevis ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor) with St. Mary's Girls' Choir and Colin Druce (organ) at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

15-Jun-02: HANDEL L'Allegro,Il Pensieroso ed Il Moderato ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Elizabeth Cragg (S), Jon English (T) with Beauchamp Sinfonietta at Kingsley School Hall, Leamington Spa

23-Nov-02: BACH Mass in B minor ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Samantha Binnie (S), James Huw Jeffries (Ctr T), Peter Bates (T), Julian Clarkson (B) with Armonico Tributo at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

17-Dec-02: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Sarah Busfield (S), Caroline Amnéus (M Sop), Sean Clayton (T), Adam Linstead (B) with Colin Druce (organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

29-Mar-03: DVORAK Te Deum, DVORAK Symphony No. 8 and HAYDN Harmonie Mass ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Gillian Flinter (S), Hilary Fisher (A), John Upperton (T), Andrew Mayor (B) with Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

14-Jun-03: HAYDN The Seasons ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Charlotte Ellett (S), Richard Edgar-Wilson (T), Simon Kirkbride (B) with Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

22-Nov-03: VERDI Requiem ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Nancy Yuen (S), Kathryn Turpin (M Sop), Paul Badley (T), John Fletcher (B) with Jeremy Dibb (conductor 4 trumpets) and Beauchamp Sinfonietta at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa - 50th Anniversary Concert

16-Dec-03: HANDELMessiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Alison Swanson (S), Mari Pelo (M Sop), Matthew Hopkins (T), Rung-Jou Liou (B) with Colin Druce (organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

24-Mar-04: BRAHMS Warum ist das Licht gegeben, BRAHMS Song of Destiny, GRIEG Piano Concerto and GOUNOD St. Cecilia Mass ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Stephanie Day (S), Graham Webber (T), Adrian Powter (B) with Colin Druce (piano) and Beauchamp Sinfonietta at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

12-Jun-04: HAYDN The Creation ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Catherine Mason (S), Jon English (T), Christopher Foster (B) with Colin Druce (organ) at St. Mary's Church, Warwick

20-Nov-04: POULENC Gloria, MOZART Clarinet Concerto and MOZART Requiem ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Samantha Binnie (S), Siân Menna (A), Julian Alexander Smith (T), Stefan Holmström (B) with Lucy Tugwell (clarinet) and Beauchamp Sinfonietta at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

14-Dec-04: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Emma Brennan (S), Amy Louise Pedwell (A), Matthew Hopkins (T), Byron Jackson (B) with Colin Druce (organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

19-Mar-05: HANDEL Samson ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Samantha Binnie (S), Charles Humphries (Ctr T), Andrew Carwood (T), Charbel Mattar (B) with The 18th Century Concert Orchestra at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

11-Jun-05: ROSSINI Stabat Mater, PERGOLESI Psalm 112 (Laudate Pueri), LISZT Variations on Bach's Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen and VERDI Sacred Pieces ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Claire Seaton (S), Judith Carder (A), Richard Coxon (T), Paul Keohone (B) with Colin Druce (organ) at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

26-Nov-05: BEETHOVEN Egmont Overture and BEETHOVEN Missa Solemnis ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Gillian Flinter (S), Louise Mott (MSop), Peter Bates (T), Stephen Holloway(B) with Sinfonia of Birmingham at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

13-Dec-05: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Sarah Cotterill (S), Kate Vetch (A), David Manford (T), Byron Jackson (B) with Colin Druce (organ) and members of Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

25-Mar-06: HANDEL Solomon ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Helen Meyerhoff (S), Elizabeth Holland (S), Stephen Hogg (Ctr T), Andrew Mackenzie-Wicks (T), Chris Gulley (B) with The 18th Century Concert Orchestra at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

17-Jun-06: MOZART Coronation Mass, MOZART Solemn Vespers and MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Amanda Hagan (S), Claire Bartram (MSop), Simon Curtis (T), Martin Oxenham (B) with Colin Druce (piano) and Sinfonia of Birmingham at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

18-Nov-06: MONTEVERDI Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Carys Lane (S), Helen Meyerhoff (S), Andrew Carwood (T), Nicholas Mulroy (T), Robert Rice (B), Michael Bundy (B) with The 18th Century Concert Orchestra at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

12-Dec-06: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Sarah Cotterill (S), Laura Woods (MSop), David Manford (T), Robert-John Edwards (B) with Colin Druce (organ) and members of Beauchamp Sinfonietta at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

24-Mar-07: MENDELSSOHN Elijah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Samantha Binnie (S), Simon Curtis (T), James Brash (B) with St Mary's Girls Choir and the Sinfonia of Birmingham at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

09-Jun-07: FAURE Requiem and SCHUBERT Mass in A flat ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Kim Sheehan (S), Madeleine Pierard (MSop), David Webb (T), Philip Tebb (B) with Colin Druce (organ) at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

24-Nov-07: BACH Christmas Oratorio ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Helen Meyerhoff (S), Susanna Spicer (MSop), Simon Curtis (T), Christopher Foster (B) with the 18th Century Concert Orchestra at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

18-Dec-07: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Caroline Sharpe (S), Laura Woods (MSop), Jacob Fifer (T), Themba Mvula (B) with Elizabeth Major (trumpet) and Colin Druce (organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

15-Mar-08: CHERUBINI Requiem in C Minor, DVORAK Te Deum and VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Donna Nobis Pacem ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Lynne Rogers (S), Simon Preece (B) with Sinfonia of Birmingham at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

14-Jun-08: HANDEL Alexander's Feast ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Susanna Hurrell (S), David Webb (T), Philip Tebb (B) with Colin Druce (organ), Adrian Moore (harpsichord), Eric Martens (cello) at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

22-Nov-08: ELGAR The Music Makers, ORFF Carmina Burana and SIBELIUS, Symphony No.7 ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Samantha Binnie (S), Diane Moore (MSop), Edward Price (Bt) with Colin Druce (piano), Andrew Jones (piano) and Sinfonia of Birmingham at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

16-Dec-08: HANDEL Messiah ~ Ronald Binnie (conductor), Lucy Harvey (S), Harriet Campbell (MSop), Mikael Onelius (T), Christopher Hill (B) with Elizabeth Major (trumpet) and Colin Druce (organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

21-Mar-09: HAYDN The Creation ~ Andrew Jones (conductor), Iris Korfker (S), Graham Neal (T), Julian Empett (Bt) with Colin Druce (organ) at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

13-Jun-09: BRUCKNER Motets and MOZART Requiem ~ Andrew Jones (conductor), Elizabeth Powell (S), Katie Bray (A), Andrew Dickinson (T), Oliver Dunn (B) with Colin Druce (organ) and the Warwick Trombone Trio at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

21-Nov-09: FAURE Requiem and BRAHMS A German Requiem ~ Andrew Jones (conductor), Nathalie Chalkley (S), Oliver Dunn (B) with Colin Druce (organ) and Sinfonia of Birmingham at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

15-Dec-09: HANDEL Messiah ~ Andrew Jones (conductor) Louise Wayman (S), Shira Lang (MSop), Mitesh Khatri (T), Matthew Stone (B) with Elizabeth Major (trumpet) and Colin Druce (organ) at St. Nicholas' Church, Kenilworth

20-Mar-10: SCHUBERT Magnificat in C, MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor and MOZART Mass in C Minor ~ Andrew Jones (conductor), Ruth Jenkins (S), Hannah Bradbury (MSop), Angharad Lyddon (MSop), Rupert Charlesworth (T), Charles Rice (B) with Colin Druce (organ) and Sinfonia of Birmingham at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

REVIEW by Clive Peacock (Courier): Confident performers put on delightful show Membership is up, Andrew Jones in firmly established as conductor, the singing is enthusiastic and the support from Sinfonia of Birmingham is outstanding. The sound at All Saints' Church could soon carry the reputation of the Society far beyond existing boundaries. Mozart's Mass in C Minor and Schubert's Magnificat in C Major were separated by Colin Druce playing Mendelssohn's first Piano Concerto in G Minor with all its impulsiveness and rhythmic motifs. Colin produced bags of lightness and clarity which this concerto deserves. How good to see his daughter employed as page-turner. It should be remembered Mendelssohn composed this work having fallen in love with Delphine, a local baroness's daughter. Sadly, the baroness refused to agree to a marriage. Nevertheless the concerto ends with a flourish bringing together the themes from earlier movements. With Shulah Oliver confidently leading the strong strings section, other Sinfonia instrumentalists added resonant tones, especially Jenny Poll (flute) and anne Hogyard (oboe) in their delightful accompaniment to Ruth Jenkins during 'Et incarnatus est' in the Mozart Mass. Andrew Jones was watchful of tempo in Schubert's Magnificat in C which featured fine solo work by Angharad Lyddon and Ruth Jenkins. Andrew was indebted to the two very solid dependable double bass players Oliver Bowckley and Richard Marshall who ensured nobody ran away with the pace and they didn't miss any entry all night. We look forward to the next concert on 12 June presenting Poulenc's Gloria, Schubert's Deutsche Messe and Vivaldi's Gloria. Some programme!

12-Jun-10: VIVALDI Gloria, SCHUBERT Deutsche Messe and POULENC Gloria ~ Andrew Jones (conductor), Runette Botha (S), Nathalie Chalkley (S), Laura Kelly (S) with Colin Druce (organ) at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa

REVIEW by Malcolm Burns (Courier): Impeccable control of a superb concert covering a range of styles The varied WKCS summer concert programme allowed conductor Andrew Jones to show off the growing responsiveness of this choir. The most familiar of the three pieces was Vivaldi's ever popular Gloria. From the joyous opening chorus, through solemn introspection and dance- like song to the final great double fugue the choir covered the wide range of classical styles with skill and confidence. The fine trio of talented young soloists excelled themselves, relishing the long phrases and wide vocal range of their parts. Schubert's Deutsche Messe is much less well known. These nine beautifully expressive hymn-like choruses lack showiness but their haunting melodies received the full benefit of Schubert's unmatched song-setting skills. The choir corresponded with fine sustained piano singing which showed of their balanced and controlled tone. 'Heilig, heilig ist der Herr' was especially effective. After the gentleness of the Schubert it was almost a shock to hear Poulenc's take on the Gloria, sung with the dynamism and raucous vigour that Schubert himself would have been party to, had he lived a century later. Despite its jazzy rhythms and violent vocal gymnastics Poulenc caught a deeply religious vein, and the choir captured both the humour and the solemnity as they negotiated the difficulties of pitching and rhythm with style. The soprano soloist, Runette Botha, was outstanding as she produced effortless top notes flawlessly time after time in the 'Agnus Dei'. Colin Druce once again accompanied with empathy and panache at the organ, and Andrew Jones controlled everyone quietly but impeccably from the front. Verdict: a superb showcase of a concert.


Please support the choral society by buying products via the Amazon link below. The society receives a referral fee AT NO EXTRA COST TO THE PURCHASER!