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| The "Priory Singers" was
formed in 1979 and has a current membership of about 60. Most, but not
all, of our members live near the Coast in North Tyneside where we hold
the majority of our concerts. In 2004 we celebrated our 25th anniversary
and we have a number of singers who have been with the choir since the
beginning. We have a no-audition policy so that singers from various
musical backgrounds can come together to perform a wide variety of both
sacred and secular music. We have three main concerts each year - before Christmas, around Easter and in the middle of June. The first two usually consist of longer choral works and we normally have an orchestra. The summer concert is more informal and we often include solo items by some of the choir. Our repertoire is wide ranging - from Palestrina to Cole Porter by way of Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn. From time to time the choir joins forces with other groups and choirs, that take us out of home territory. In 1989 we joined 1500 voices and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the Albert Hall in a performance of Berlioz's Grande Messe des Mortes. In 1994 we took part in the Paris Choral Festival and accompanied the live Mass in the Church of La Madelaine by singing Byrd's Mass for Four Voices - quite an experience ! We have sung Haydn's "Creation" in Durham Cathedral and more recently have joined forces with Hexham Orpheus Choir to do larger works, notably Mendelssohn's "Elijah" and a memorable "German Requiem" by Brahms in Hexham Abbey. Glenn Davis was our musical director for 28 years, from our formation to retiring from the post in 2007. We are grateful for his long and dedicated service to the choir. This year Jonathan Scott has taken up the reins and we look forward to a fruitful collaboration with his Jesmond Choral Group, for whom he is also musical director. In 2004 The Priory Singers became a registered charity with the aim of furthering the appreciation of choral music within the local community. We are a member of "Making Music" (formerly The National Federation of Music Societies) and occasionally receive grants from Making Music and Northern Arts. Otherwise our funds are self generated by social events and at present we do not have any sponsors, but we are would welcome any interest in this area ! The social scene is considered to be an important part of the choir's activities. A ten-minute interval in rehearsal offers only a limited time to get to know fellow singers, so after each main concert a social supper is arranged at a member's home and there have been barbecues, summer picnics, suppers with entertainment, and very enjoyable car-quiz rallies ending with a pub supper. |
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