EXETER BACH SOCIETY

Patron: Peter Hurford Esq., OBE. DMus. FRCO
Hon President: Alderman Ramon Yeo

Registered Charity No. 1120011

Music Workshop

We invite you to join an exciting choral workshop with Gavin Carr to study the popular choral masterpiece by Carl Orff

on Saturday 21st February 2009 at The Mint Church, Fore Street, Exeter

with a performance the next day with the Devon Sinfonietta conducted by Scott Stroman.

Gavin Carr

Gavin Carr was born in London and studied at King's College, Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar.. He then emigrated for five years to Australia, where he began his conducting career. He also made his name as baritone, performing thoughout much of the world in opera and appearing at many festivals and with major orchestras and choruses in concert and recital.

Gavin has been Music Director of The Athenaeum Singers since 2003, Assistant Conductor at the Wexford Festival and at the Cantiere d'Arte di Montepulciano as well as the Associate Principal Conductor with the The Bath Philharmonia since 2006.

In 2006 Gavin formed a new professional choir, Chorus Angelorum, making his and their debut with the English Chamber Orchestra, in the St Matthew Passion in Bath Abbey. In both 2006 and 2007 Chorus Angelorum toured Italy singing Messiaen's Trois Petites Liturgies de la Presence Divine with Jan Latham-Koenig and the orchestra of the Teatro Regio at the Turin opera house and in August 2007, for performances of Carmina Burana in Naples, Montepulciano, Bologna and Llubljana. He made another Italian tour in August 2008 under the auspices of the Emilia Romagna Festival in Bologna. Gavin is now also the conductor of Bath Minerva Choir and recently took up the post of Director of the Bristol Bach Choir.

Gavin was described recently as "the best in the business" of choir trainers. You will instantly warm to him.

Scott Stroman

Scott is renowned for his keen ear, rhythmic strength, attention to detail, broad knowledge and wide experience. His musical vocabulary genuinely embraces classical, jazz, and world music. His musical strength and depth also allow him to bring his insight and inspiration to the standard orchestral and choral repertoire.

He works regularly with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, where he directs their ground-breaking Renga Ensemble. As a jazz-trombonist and singer, Scott has performed with many of the great players.

Since 1983 he has been a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and since 1984 head of their jazz programme, renowned as one of the best in Europe. His work with youth includes directing the Devon Sinfonietta.

If you met Scott at the workshop last year you will know what a charismatic leader he is. If you did not, this is your opportunity to find out.

The Workshop and Performance

All singers are invited to join in the fun of this workshop with a performance on the following day.

This event is a further departure from the Exeter Bach Society's more usual baroque fare. Following our very successful workshop led by Scott Stroman in February 2008, we were thrilled to be asked by Scott to provide the chorus for a performance of Carl Orff's exciting and very popular choral work, Carmina Burana, to join with the Devon Sinfonietta, formerly the Devon Youth Orchestra, on Sunday 22nd February 2009. Since we had already asked Gavin Carr to lead a workshop on the previous day, the two events seemed just made for each other. Normally after a workshop there is no proper performance; you just go home! But this workshop is different. Effectively you get two for the price of one; the workshop on the Saturday with Gavin, followed on the Sunday afternoon by a final rehearsal and then a proper performance accompanied by the Devon Sinfonietta under the baton of Scott Stroman, the orchestra's Music Director. Also, the opportunity to support youth music in Devon is a compelling enough reason to join in.

The Programme

Saturday 21st February 2009 - in The Mint Church, Exeter

Sunday 22nd February 2009 - in The Corn Exchange

The Fee

All this will only cost you £9. To have a day with Gavin Carr for so little is really good value. To have another half day with Scott Stroman included as well is just remarkable! Don't miss it!

Scores will be available to hire for £1 each. Tea, coffee and cold drinks will be available.

Booking

Download and complete the form, and send it off today with your fee. We will put your ticket(s) in the post. Do not delay! Then just turn up on Saturday 21st February at the Mint Church before 9.30 am with the ticket.