Superb singing in Saumur
‘Absolutely brilliant!’, was the verdict of the deputy Mayor of Saumur, Madame Marlen Volland, after hearing the Warwickshire County Choristers in concert in Warwick’s twin town.
Warwickshire’s foremost boys’ choir has just returned from a triumphant six day tour – their first abroad. Visiting Vimoutiers, Saumur, and Angers, the choristers gave five performances in churches and concert halls to appreciative audiences.
“The boys certainly impressed with the high standard of their singing receiving standing ovations for all their concerts”, commented Jonathan Tritter, an accompanying parent from Leamington Spa.
The boys had a great time too. Ben Carter, aged 11, from Warwick said: “We sing lots of different types of music which is why we enjoy it so much. It’s great when we know we’ve sung really well and the audiences enjoy our performance like they have here in France.”
The Mayor of Saumur invited the choristers to stay as his guests for three days of the tour following in the footsteps of the County Youth Chorale who visited last year. Their main evening performance in the town took place in the lovely Chapel of St Louis Insititute, but they also sang for mass at the Saumur’s main church to a very large congregation.
During their stay, the boys visited the town, attended a formal reception by the Mayor, had a meal in the troglodyte caves, and were given a guided tour of the Chateau and old town. “It’s a lovely town and the people were very friendly. I really enjoyed the trip to their amazing zoo as well”, said Josh Heasman, from Hatton.
The choristers’ last concert was in the very beautiful Chappele des Ursules, which is now a professional concert hall. Filmed by a French TV company, the concert rounded off a memorable week and left the audience shouting for encores.
The County Choristers were formed less than a year ago and are gaining a growing reputation for the quality of their singing and the range of their repertoire. The boys’ recently recorded first CD ‘Bright stars’ even sold out during the trip.
Garry Jones, the choir’s director and founder, said: “I am very proud of what the boys have achieved and this tour has shown that the group has enormous potential. We are looking forward to many more tours and exciting events and are always looking for new applicants to join this very successful team.”
The group, with approximately 50 members, is part of the larger 100 strong County Boys Choir, supported by the county council’s Music Service. Further information about the choristers and other County Music Service activities can be found at http://www.musicforlife.net or by calling 01926 742630.