We’ve just about got our breath back after all the excitements of 2016: our 1000^th concert; the formal presentation of the Elgar Society’s Certificate of Merit; and our 50^th Anniversary Concert. After all that we’re looking forward to 2017 with great confidence.

As part of our build-up to our performance of Bob Chilcott’s Requiem at the end of March Bob lead us in a one-day workshop on the piece at Tewkesbury School on Saturday 4 March.

We had a great day! Bob rehearsed us in the work, ably supported by our accompanist, Joshua Crunden. He worked us hard but he motivated us marvellously and he also entertained us with many tips about singing and anecdotes from his long and successful career as a singer and composer. At the end of the afternoon he led us in an informal performance of the complete work with soloists Kathryn Skipp (soprano) and John Quinn (tenor). That in itself was an interesting experience because Bob got us all to stand round in a big circle with himself, the piano and the soloists in the centre. This unusual layout helped us to get a different and exciting perspective on the choral sound.

Over 100 people attended the workshop. The majority were Philomusica members but we were also delighted to welcome a good number of guest singers. Many of these were members of local choirs but some came from farther afield, including four singers from Leicestershire. They frequently attend Bob’s workshops in different parts of the country and we were thrilled to receive this note from them the next day

Thank you so much for a wonderful day yesterday! We have been to several Come and Sing with Bob Chilcott days, so we knew we were in for a special day and it certainly did live up to all expectations.

Having left home at 7.30, it was lovely to receive such a warm welcome by all your choir members and we were looked after so well and kindly all day. And Bob was just magnificent and, as always, made a memorable day of singing and fun and friendship. We have never heard him pour such praises on the singers – all your preparations had certainly paid off!

So, this is just to say a huge thank you to you all, and to ask if you would be so kind as to pass on these thanks to the rest of the choir and to your Musical Director.

A fabulously, happy day which we will remember with great warmth.

And we also received this wonderful note from Bob himself

It really was a rather special day from my point of view. As you know I've done a great deal of these days, which I love, but rarely have I done one like this where the singing was so good and the spirit so lovely. You are right, you have obviously been taught the music by Linda in a very understanding and careful way. That does me a great service I have to say, for which I am very grateful.

Good luck with the performance. So sorry I can't be there. Let me know how it goes.

We’re now looking forward even more to our performance of Bob’s Requiem in Tewkesbury Abbey on Saturday 25 March at 7.30 pm. We’ll also be performing Vivaldi’s Gloria and giving the first performance of a new work we’ve commissioned from local composer, Freya Ireland: Songs of Joy.

Tickets available from tickets@philomusica.org   from 01905 350340 or on the door

If you’re interested in joining Philomusica Linda would be very keen to hear from you - especially if you’re a bass. As she says: “There are no auditions. Instead we have a trial period of a month which gives new recruits the chance to see if they like the Philomusica experience: almost without exception they do.”

For more information call Linda on 01684 850426 or email her at conductor@philomusica.org.uk 

We have weekly rehearsals in Worcester and Gloucester – members attend whichever one is most convenient for them on a weekly basis.

Worcester rehearsals are at Bromyard Road Methodist Church, St. John’s, Worcester, WR2 5DL on Thursday evenings at 19.30.

Gloucester rehearsals take place at The Milestone School, Longford Lane, Gloucester GL2 9EU on Friday evenings at 19.30