IT IS a choir which has a national profile and a blossoming reputation in Europe.
Hear the Leeds University Liturgical Choir in concert next weekend at All Hallows’ Parish Church in Almondbury.
The ensemble was formed 10 years ago by Bryan White, Stephen Muir and Philip Wilby as a chamber choir. One of its aims was to include the performance of sacred choral music in liturgical settings.
Since that time, the ensemble has developed into one of the finest in the region. It performs at services, gives concerts and has also worked in collaboration with a range of professional ensembles.
For its concert at All Hallows’, on Saturday March 17 (7.30pm) the ensemble will be presenting English and American music, with folk song settings by Vaughan Williams along with music by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein.
The choir, directed by Dr Stephen Muir, draws its membership from across the University of Leeds and includes undergraduates, postgraduates and staff from the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, the Schools of Chemistry, Computing, English and Music, the Institute of Health Sciences, Joint Honours and the Lifelong Learning Centre.
The singers have performed in a variety of prestigious venues through the UK, including St Paul’s Cathedral in London, York Minster, Wells, Ely, Lincoln, Salisbury, Worcester and Leeds Cathedrals. It has also toured abroad and its singers have made a number of CDs.
This summer, the choir will take a new name, that of The Clothworkers Consort of Leeds, in recognition of the contribution of The Clothworkers’ Company (one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies) to the University of Leeds since 1904.
Tickets are £5 on the door or from Mrs Rita Chambers on 01484 531812.
