Bookings are now open for the Sinfonia Chorale Come and Sing / Play workshop on Saturday 18 January at Bramcote Parish Church.
Sinfonia Chorale is a Nottingham-based choir and their Come and Sing workshop is an annual event which attracts singers from all over the East Midlands and beyond. This year the choir is welcoming orchestral players too and the workshop will focus on works by Mozart.
Here’s an opportunity to explore some of the brightest and most joyful music of the young Mozart. The Credo Mass and the Regina coeli are products from Mozart’s early employment at the court of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg. Famously the two didn’t get on but you’d never guess that from the music. Composed at the age of 20, the Credo Mass is full of youthful high spirits and impish good humour. The short Regina coeli is every bit as lively. There’s a chance too to experience the three-choir piece, V’amo do core, composed as a canon for voices and instruments.
The choir are fortunate to have Richard Roddis as their musical director and are being joined for the day by Kelly McCusker as their instrumental specialist.
Richard is well known throughout the East Midlands for his work with choirs. His conducting experience stretches back more than a quarter of a century and, as a professional singer and a member of several top choirs, he brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to choral conducting.
Richard has become an expert exponent of the chamber choir repertoire, currently working with the Sinfonia Chorale, the Derby Bach Choir and his own choir the Richard Roddis Singers, which has operated annually since 1980. He was appointed Director of the Sinfonia Chorale in June 1991. As a conductor, he has broadcast on BBC and Independent TV and Radio, and toured both in the UK and Europe.
Born in London, Kelly McCusker studied at the Purcell School and Kingston University before gaining a distinction in Music Performance for her Masters degree at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire studying modern violin with Gabrielle Lester and baroque violin with Mica Comberti. The Conservatoire made her an Honorary member in 2002.
Kelly enjoys a busy and varied freelance career on baroque and classical violin working with a variety of ensembles including Armonico Consort (leader), The London Handel Players, Bristol Ensemble, Ex Cathedra, Canzona, Haydn Festival Orchestra, St James Baroque Players (BBC prom 2000) and has held the Principle 2nd chair for many years with The Hanover Band enjoying many recordings and global tours.
Choir accompanist for the day will be Michael Overbury. Michael Overbury’s early musical influences were in Farnham, Surrey and at Trinity College, London. Winning an Organ Scholarship to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, he studied with Gillian Weir. After graduating he was an assisting organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, Assistant Organist at New College, Oxford, a deputy organist at St Alban’s Abbey, Master of the Song School at Newark, and Director of Music and Organist at Worksop Priory. Since winning the 1982 Manchester International Organ Competition, he has appeared twice as soloist at the Royal Festival Hall, and in countless other cathedrals and concert venues. Michael is the regular accompanist for Sinfonia Chorale and also Ruddington and district Choral Society.
As usual, an enjoyable day is planned, with friendly choir members to welcome participants to the workshop, free refreshments in the morning and afternoon breaks and a hot buffet lunch as an option for only £5.
Please book early to secure your place at the workshop by completing the booking form at www.sinfoniachorale.uk/come-and-singplay-2025 where further information can also be found.