Philomusica's March Concert

21 March 2009, St. Andrew's Church, Churchdown

Friends of local choir, Philomusica, will have the chance to wish them Bon Voyage when they give a concert at St Andrew’s Church, Churchdown on Saturday 21 March.

“We’re going on a concert tour to France immediately after Easter”, explains Philomusica Chairman, John Quinn, “and we’ll be performing the same programme that we’re presenting in France when we sing in Churchdown.”

This will be the fifth overseas trip for the choir, following highly successful visits to Holland, Belgium and the USA, as well as a previous visit to France. This latest tour will see them basing themselves in the city of Rouen in Normandy and while they’re in Rouen they’ll give two concerts.

“Our tour programme focuses mainly on English music”, John explained, “though we’ll also sing some pieces by French composers. So there’ll be works by several English composers, including Vaughan Williams and Parry as well as by the Frenchmen Fauré and Gounod.” One of the concert highlights will be a set of arrangements of spirituals by John Rutter, which the choir has performed abroad before. “We performed these superb, jazzy spirituals in Belgium two years ago”, said John, “and members of the audience were literally dancing as we sang. So we hope the French audiences will enjoy them just as much.”

The concert is on Saturday 21 March at 7.30. Tickets cost £7 (accompanied children un der 16 admitted free) and can be bought on the door or in advance by ringing 01452 506417

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.