Previous Concerts

If you can hear the music it is the opening chorus from Bach's Magnificat.

Last Concert:

December Concert 2007

Saturday, 8th December at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:-

(Click on photograph to enlarge)

St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK
For the location of St. Mary's church click here.

Programme :-

John Rutter's: Magnificat

and
Carols for Choir and Audience

Conductor :-

Terry Saunders
(See below for biography)

Guest Soloist:-

Soprano:- Suzanne Walker
(See below for biography)

Choir:-

The Burnham Music Group

Piano/Organist:-

Tom Potten

Trumpet:-

Nick Perry & Will Potten

_______

BIOGRAPHIES:-

OUR CONDUCTOR AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR :-
Terry Saunders: Terry Saunders studied at Bristol University and with John Carol Case (voice) and Pamela Speed-Andrews (piano). He has pursued a varied musical career over the last 30 years, as an opera & oratorio singer, music theatre & cabaret performer, organist & choirmaster, composer and conductor. As well as many roles in Mozart operas, he has sung Escamillo (Carmen), Dulcamara (L'Elisir d'Amore), Kecal (The Bartered Bride), Uberto (La Serva Padrona) and the title role in Don Pasquale. Terry has appeared as an oratorio soloist in more than 100 concerts - including 16 performances of Stainer's Crucifixion - and he has had the privilege of working with Sir David Willcocks on several occasions. In music theatre, Terry's favourite role is Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady. He has performed this role in three productions, one of which - at Richmond Theatre - won him an Arts Council award. He has conducted several musicals, including South Pacific at Epsom Playhouse and Sweet Charity at The Secombe Theatre, Sutton. Terry regularly acts as an accompanist to other singers, and is a senior house pianist at the Ardingly International Music School . Terry was Director of Music at St John’s , Stoneleigh, from 2000 to 2006, for whom he composed liturgical settings and several hymns. Terry also appeared for nine years as one of the 'boys with the obedient feet' in the cabaret group Vamp 'til Ready; now he performs his own one-man shows, including "An Evening with Noel Coward" and "I Get A Kick Out Of Cole". King Arthur was his first concert as musical director of the Burnham Music Group.

SOLOIST:-
Suzanne Walker – Soprano: Suzanne studied at the University of Birmingham where she graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Music, Drama and Dance. She studied singing at the Birmingham Conservatoire and with Annette Thompson in London. Her oratorio experience includes Handel’s Messiah and The Passion of Christ, Fauré’s Requiem, Haydn’s The Creation and Passion of Christ, Mozart’s Requiem and Exultate Jubilate, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Leighton’s Crucifixus Pro Nobis, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Brahms’ Requiem and Schubert’s Stabat Mater for the St Peter’s Singers, Peterborough Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds Cathedral, Ramsey, Kings Lynn and Ely Choral Societies, Blackheath Choir, and St George’s choir in St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast amongst others. Operatic roles include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro and Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor by Mozart, Lauretta in Bizet’s Dr Miracle, Atalanta in Xerxes and Ino in Semele by Handel, and Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, for companies such as Opera Experience, Opera Da Camera, Morley Opera, Definitely Divas and Starlight Opera. She has created the roles for a number of new contemporary operas including Heather in Lunch at the Cooked Goose and Elizabeth I in Welcome to Purgatory by Betty Roe & Marian Lines, as well as Spem and the song cycle The Year of the Green Parrots by Joe St Johanser. She recently made a recording with the London Sinfonietta of a new opera The Tempest by Joe St Johanser playing the part of Trincula. She also gives recital concerts and performs regularly with Three in a bar. When not singing Suzanne works in contemporary dance and is Director of Programming at Sadler’s Wells.

_______

Summer Concert 2007

Saturday, 12th May at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:-

St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK
For the location of St. Mary's church click here.

Programme :-

Henry Purcel: King Arthur

Conductor :-

Terry Saunders
(See below for biography)

Choir:-

The Burnham Music Group

Guest Soloists:-

Soprano:- Suzanne Walker
Mezzo-soprano:- Marjorie Ouvry
Tenor:- Geoffrey Strum
Bass-Baritone:- Martin Lamb
(See below for biographies)

Orchestra:-

1st violin: Gabriel Anderson and Chris Gibson
2nd violin: Xandria Edwins and Peiman Khosravi
Viola: Hayley Chisnali
Cello: Mary Pells
Bass: Steve Pritchard
1st trumpet: Nick Perry
2nd trumpet: Will Potten
Continuo: Tom Potten

OUR CONDUCTOR AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR :-
Terry Saunders: Terry Saunders studied at Bristol University and with John Carol Case (voice) and Pamela Speed-Andrews (piano). He has pursued a varied musical career over the last 30 years, as an opera & oratorio singer, music theatre & cabaret performer, organist & choirmaster, composer and conductor. As well as many roles in Mozart operas, he has sung Escamillo (Carmen), Dulcamara (L'Elisir d'Amore), Kecal (The Bartered Bride), Uberto (La Serva Padrona) and the title role in Don Pasquale. Terry has appeared as an oratorio soloist in more than 100 concerts - including 16 performances of Stainer's Crucifixion - and he has had the privilege of working with Sir David Willcocks on several occasions. In music theatre, Terry's favourite role is Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady. He has performed this role in three productions, one of which - at Richmond Theatre - won him an Arts Council award. He has conducted several musicals, including South Pacific at Epsom Playhouse and Sweet Charity at The Secombe Theatre, Sutton. Terry regularly acts as an accompanist to other singers, and is a senior house pianist at the Ardingly International Music School . Terry was Director of Music at St John’s , Stoneleigh, from 2000 to 2006, for whom he composed liturgical settings and several hymns. Terry also appeared for nine years as one of the 'boys with the obedient feet' in the cabaret group Vamp 'til Ready; now he performs his own one-man shows, including "An Evening with Noel Coward" and "I Get A Kick Out Of Cole". King Arthur was his first concert as musical director of the Burnham Music Group.

SOLOISTS :-
Suzanne Walker – Soprano: Suzanne studied at the University of Birmingham where she graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Music, Drama and Dance. She studied singing at the Birmingham Conservatoire and with Annette Thompson in London. Her oratorio experience includes Handel’s Messiah and The Passion of Christ, Fauré’s Requiem, Haydn’s The Creation and Passion of Christ, Mozart’s Requiem and Exultate Jubilate, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Leighton’s Crucifixus Pro Nobis, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Brahms’ Requiem and Schubert’s Stabat Mater for the St Peter’s Singers, Peterborough Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds Cathedral, Ramsey, Kings Lynn and Ely Choral Societies, Blackheath Choir, and St George’s choir in St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast amongst others. Operatic roles include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro and Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor by Mozart, Lauretta in Bizet’s Dr Miracle, Atalanta in Xerxes and Ino in Semele by Handel, and Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, for companies such as Opera Experience, Opera Da Camera, Morley Opera, Definitely Divas and Starlight Opera. She has created the roles for a number of new contemporary operas including Heather in Lunch at the Cooked Goose and Elizabeth I in Welcome to Purgatory by Betty Roe & Marian Lines, as well as Spem and the song cycle The Year of the Green Parrots by Joe St Johanser. She recently made a recording with the London Sinfonietta of a new opera The Tempest by Joe St Johanser playing the part of Trincula. She also gives recital concerts and performs regularly with Three in a bar. When not singing Suzanne works in contemporary dance and is Director of Programming at Sadler’s Wells.

Marjorie Ouvry - Mezzo-soprano: After graduating as a teacher, Marjorie began to study singing with the eminent baritone, John Carol Case, and continued with him until he retired. Subsequently she has studied with Marjorie Thomas, Susan McCulloch and Ameral Gunson along with master classes with Rudolf Piernay, Robin Bowman, and Richard Jackson. Her singing career, which ran alongside her career in education, started in her native Scotland, continuing as she sang in amateur opera companies and workshop productions and as a professional soloist with many British choral societies, notably the BBC Club Choir conducted by Ronald Corp, London Choral Society and the London Mozart Players conducted by Jane Glover. Marjorie was a prize-winner and highest placed woman entrant in the International Singing Competition, ‘The English Song Award’, in 1984. In 1996, Marjorie was invited as soloist to the first Festival of Classical Music in the Seychelles. She has performed as soloist in venues such as Peterborough, Coventry and Birmingham Cathedrals, Blackheath Halls, St Martin in the Fields, National Portrait Gallery and recently Southwark Cathedral. She was co-founder, with Suzanne, of the all-woman quartet ‘Definitely Divas’ who performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2000 to critical acclaim. Marjorie, with Suzanne and Terry, is one third of the trio ‘Three in a Bar’, which commissioned and premiered a musical theatre piece by Betty Roe called Welcome to Purgatory in the 2003 Fringe. The demands of her work as a freelance education consultant gradually dominated her time especially after she published her second book in 2004. It was the renowned mezzo-soprano Ameral Gunson and eminent accompanist Eugene Asti who encouraged her to fulfil her dream and concentrate on singing full time as a postgraduate diploma student at Trinity College of Music where she gained a place in 2005. At college she has been given many opportunities to perform notably in the Schumann Festival and last year took part in the College’s performance of Beggars’ Opera (Mrs Trapes). Last year she and Michalis Angelakis won the Lillian Ash French Song Competition for voice and piano and they were in the finals of the Trinity College Lieder Competition. This year Marjorie has won the John Ireland Song Competition. Future commitments include First Prioress in Les Diologues des Carmelites by Poulenc in June, sharing a recital of English Song for the Friends of Blackheath Halls in July and the Angel in Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius in October. She is currently studying with the distinguished teacher Hazel Wood.

Geoffrey Strum - Tenor: Geoffrey Strum was born in London . He gained a B.A.(Hons.) at Middlesex University and also studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has sung in Masterclasses with Anthony Legge, Head of Music at The English National Opera; Jonathan Hinden, principal coach at Glyndebourne Opera; Brian MacKay, conductor; Paul Hamburger, Professor of Music at The Guildhall School of Music, David Coleman, resident Conductor of Paris Opera and Jeremy Silver, Carlos Aransay and Iain Ledingham. Geoffrey has sung leading roles in Oratoria including the tenor solos in Messe Di Gloria by Puccini, conductor Robert Dean. The Creation by Haydn, conductor Brian MacKay. Elijah by Mendelssohn, conductor Gregory Rose, and The Messiah by Handel, conductor Neil Jenkins.Geoffrey regularly performs in concerts and recitals throughout the country and Europe . He has been directed in Opera productions by Elaine Tyler-Hall of The English National Opera, Wayne Morris, director of Pimlico Opera; Alex Ingram, conductor of The English National Opera; Christopher Cowell; Steve Cannon and John Ramster. Geoffrey studies voice with Scilla Stewart and has attended coaching workshops with Sheila Thomas, Sandra Gelson and Gerry Cornelius at Morley Opera School, where he sang leading roles such as Nemorino in L’Elisir D’Amore , Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto , Don Jose in Carmen, Siebenkas in Ten Belles Without A Man, Belmonte in Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail, Tito in La Clemenza di Tito, Piquillo in La Perichole and Jenik in The Bartered Bride. He has also studied with Delia Lindon. Geoffrey has toured the U.K. and Europe with the Ambrosian Singers in productions of Carmen and Aida. He was featured as an opera singer in The Bill for Thames Television. In 2005 Geoffrey was involved in the world debut of The Whitechapel Whirlwind by Howard Fredrics and Jacob Sager Weinstein at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London . This is a new opera about Jack Kid Lewis the boxer. Geoffrey played the role of the Goon and also understudied the lead role .

Martin Lamb - Bass-baritone:Martin Lamb was born in Southport and read English at St John's College, Oxford, before taking up a postgraduate place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he won the Sir Frederick George Painter Prize. He has worked for English Touring Opera, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Garsington Opera, Pavilion Opera, Grange Park Opera, London City Opera, Opera Holland Park, European Chamber Opera, The G&S Opera Company, Minotaur Music Theatre and many other regional companies, in roles ranging from Don Pasquale (including giving the national premier of the opera in the Philippines), Nicolai's Falstaff, the Sacristan, Angelotti and Sciarrone (Tosca), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Baron Douphol (La Traviata), Kecal (The Bartered Bride), Masetto and Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni), Colline (La Bohème), to Dick Deadeye (HMS Pinafore), Sergeant Meryll (The Yeomen of the Guard) and many other operetta roles. An experienced oratorio soloist, Martin's repertoire embraces a wide range of works, and he is a keen cabaret performer, specialising in Edwardian music. He also undertakes work as an actor, having appeared in two Christmas plays at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, and recently took part in a reading of new fiction in central London. Last year, Martin toured the country as the Mayor in ETO’s highly acclaimed production of Jenufa, and appeared as Baron Zeta in Opera UK’s London production of The Merry Widow. Future plans include the Lackey in Garsington Opera’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos, Bartolo and Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro for Heritage Opera and an illustrated lecture on W. S. Gilbert as part of the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton. Martin continues his singing studies with Robert Dean.

_______

Christmas Concert 2006

CONCERT BY CANDLELIGHT

Saturday, 9th December at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:-

St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK
For the location of St. Mary's church click here.

Programme includes:-

Andrew Carter: Te Deum
Two Spanish Carols
and
Carols for Choir and Audience

Guest Conductors:-

Tom & Will Potten

Choirs:-

The Burnham Music Group
&
Children's Choir

Organist:-

Timothy End

BIOGRAPHIES:-

OUR CONDUCTOR AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR :-

From January 2007 - Terry Saunders

GUEST CONDUCTORS:-
Tom Potten: was born in 1981 and has lived in Essex most of his life. At the age of 7 he started piano lessons under local teacher Ray Clarke, and with the guidance of his influential school music teacher, Peter Dale, he developed his enthusiasm for music. In 2002 he gained his Bachelor of Music degree from the London College of Music and Media, having studied with composer Kit Turnbull and Jazz musician Eddie Harvey. It was here that his passion for contemporary music really began. Since then he has been working primarily as a piano teacher and session musician around the county, gaining Yamaha certified music teacher status in 2003. He also recorded accompaniments for Spartan Press Publications in the same year and next year he will work with different publishers on a new series of books. This will be Tom’s first time as conductor of the Burnham Music Group and he hopes to continue working with them as a rehearsal pianist for many more years to come.

Will Potten: began his career with the Burnham Music Group almost twenty years ago, playing third trumpet in Duruflé's Requiem. Since then, he has performed with them on many occasions, both playing and singing. Whilst at school, he also played for a number of years with various Essex Youth Orchestra ensembles.

He completed a music degree at Girton College , Cambridge , in 1997. During his time there, he sang with Girton College choir, which was directed by Martin Ennis, and also went on tours to Mexico , Ireland and the Vatican . With the choir, he made a recording in 1995.

With the Cambridge Univeristy Musical Society he performed under several well-known conductors. Particular highlights were Elgar's Dream of Gerontius under Stephen Cleobury and The Rite of Spring conducted by Daniel Harding.

ORGANIST:-
Timothy End: started learning the piano at the age of three and the violin at six. By the age of fifteen he had attained the Advanced Certificate for both instruments. At this time he also devoted himself to learning the organ, attaining Grade 8 with Distinction aged 16. Whilst attending the Junior Academy of Music, he was leader of the Symphony Orchestra and performed at the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall.

He then started a Music degree course at King’s College, London. He was an Organ Scholar and led both their Symphony Orchestra, performing at St. John’s Smith Square, and the King’s College String Quartet, who were asked to perform at the Commemoration Oration Service in the Great Hall, fronted by the Prime Minister. In the final term he was the soloist in César Franck’s Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra.

After graduating with a first class honours BMus degree, Tim is currently studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance on the piano accompaniment course at the Royal Academy, being tutored by Julius Drake and Patsy Toh. He was recently awarded first and second prize at the prestigious Delius Prize held at the Academy, adjudicated by Sir Charles Mackerras.

Timothy holds the Francis Simms Prize and awards from the Countess of Munster Trust and the Musicians Benevolent Fund.

_______

Summer Concert 2006

Saturday, 24th June at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:-

St. Leonard's Church, Southminster, Essex
(See below for location etc)

Programme includes:-

W. A. Mozart: Coronation Mass in C
Matyas Seiber: Three Hungarian Folk Songs
Matyas Seiber: Yugoslav Folk Songs
Zoltán Kodály: Mátra Pictures

Conductor:-

Eric Stephenson
(See below for biography)

Choir:-

The Burnham Music Group

Guest Soloists:-

From the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Soprano - Emma Llewellyn
Mezzo-soprano - Andrea Hazell
Tenor - Mark Guerin
Baritone - Simon Preece

Organist:-

Jeremy Plummer
(See below for biography)

For St. Leonard's web site click here.

For the location of St. Leonard's church click here.

_______

Christmas Concert 2005

Saturday, 10th December at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:-

St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK
For the location of St. Mary's church click here.

Programme includes:-

W. A. Mozart: Misericordias Domini K.222
Orlando Gibbons: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis
of The Short Service
Malcolm Arnold: The John Clare Cantata
and
Carols for Choir and Audience

Conductor:-

Eric Stephenson
(See below for biography)

Choir:-

The Burnham Music Group

Pianist/Organist:-

Jeremy Plummer
(See below for biography)
_______

Summer Concert 2005

Saturday, 2nd July at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:-

St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK
For the location of St. Mary's church click here.

Programme included:-

John Rutter: Mass of the Children

Karl Jenkins: Choral Suite from "The Armed Man"

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: Songs from "The Kestrel Road"

Conductor:-

Eric Stephenson
(See below for biography)

Choir:-

The Burnham Music Group

Guest Soloists:-

From the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Soprano:- Andrea Hazell
Baritone:- Simon Preece

Professional Orchestra:-

Chamber Ensemble (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Timpani, Percussion x 2, Harp and Double Bass)

Organist:-

Jeremy Plummer
(See below for biography)
_______

Christmas Concert 2004

Saturday, 11^th December at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St. Leonard's Church, Southminster, Essex
(See below for location etc)

Programme included:-

Haydn: The Creation - Part 1
and
Carols for Choir and Audience

Conductor:-

Eric Stephenson

Choir:-

The Burnham Music Group

Guest Soloists:-

Mezzo-soprano - Andrea Hazell
Tenor - Luke Price
Bass - John Bernays

Organist:-

Jeremy Plummer
(See below for biography)

For St. Leonard's web site click here.

For the location of St. Leonard's church click here.

_______

Summer Concert 2004

Saturday, 19^th June at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:-

St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK
For the location of St. Mary's church click here.

Programme included:-

Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace
with
soloists from the ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
and a professional orchestra

Francis Poulenc: (Text: Jean de Brunhoff):
The Tale of Babar the Little Elephant
with
Special Guest Appearance as Narrator by
Lord Birkett
and
Eric Stephenson (Piano)

Conductor:-                          Eric Stephenson

Choir:-                            The Burnham Music Group
Organist:-                              Jeremy Plummer
                                                  (See below for biography)

_______

"The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace" is the result of a special millennial commission from the Royal Armouries and the latest in a six century old tradition of "Armed Man" Masses that take the fifteenth century French song "L'Homme Armé" as their starting point.

Large scale in both scope and scale "The Armed Man" it is a profoundly moving yet very accessible work which uses the most traditional of means to explore an all too contemporary subject. As Karl Jenkins explains, "As I started composing "The Armed Man" the tragedy of Kosovo unfolded. I was reminded daily of the horror of such conflict and so I dedicate the work to the victims of Kosovo”.

"The Armed Man" has drawn on a diverse array of cultural and historical sources. It's difficult to think of another composer who could successfully place a muezzin's call to prayer within a Mass setting and follow it with a Kyrie that quotes both Palestrina and Brazilian drum rhythms. That Karl Jenkins does so with such ease and to such powerful effect is a tribute to his remarkable skill and musical sensitivity.

"The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace" received its world première in April 2000 at London's Royal Albert Hall.

The Burnham Music Group's performance was we believe the first performance in the area.

_______

Christmas Concert 2003

Saturday, 13^th December at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme included:-

William Mathias: Ave Rex
Edward Elgar: Te Deum & Benedictus in F
John Rutter: Candlelight Carol
Gordon Langford: The Christmas Gift
John Tavener: Motets
and
Carols for Choir and Audience

_______

Previous Concerts:

Summer Concert 2003

Saturday, 14^th June at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme included:-

Igor Stravinsky: Mass for Mixed Chorus and Double Wind Quintet
Giovanni Gabrieli: In Ecclesiis
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Gabriel Fauré: Pavanne

Conductor:-                          Eric Stephenson

Choir:-                            The Burnham Music Group
                            (Accompanied by professional musicians)
Soloists:- Solos were sung by past and present members of the choir

Soprano:- Marie Perry
Alto:- Pam Langmead
Tenor:- Trevor Southey
Baritone:- Peter Robinson
_______

Christmas Concert 2002

Saturday, 7^th December at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme included:-

William Mathias: Rex Gloriae
Maxwell Davies: Ave Maria
Schutz: Now Let Us All Thank Thee, God
J. S. Bach: Three Chorales
Sweelinck: Hodie Christmas Natus Est
Carols for Choir and Audience

Choir:-                            The Burnham Music Group
Harpsichord:-                     Jeremy Plummer
                                               (See below for biography)
Conductor:-                          Eric Stephenson

_______

Summer Concert 2002

Saturday, 22^nd June at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme included:-

Purcell: Te Deum laudamus
& Jubilate Deo in D
and
Welcome to all the Pleasures
Tavener: Love Bade Me Welcome
Górecki: Lobgesang

Choir:-                            The Burnham Music Group
Harpsichord:-                         Jeremy Plummer
                                                  (See below for biography)
Conductor:-                          Eric Stephenson

Links to information regarding the composer:-

John Tavener - 1.click here 2. click here

_______

Christmas Concert 2001

Saturday 8^th December at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme included:-

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols
Marcel Grandjany: Fantaisie sur un thème de J. Haydn
(Harp solo)
Tavener: Song for Athene
Vivaldi: Credo
Carols for Choir and Audience

Choir:-                            The Burnham Music Group
Guest Harpist:-                  Emma Ramsdale

Organist:-                              Jeremy Plummer
                                                  (See below for biography)
Conductor:-                          Eric Stephenson

_______

Links to information regarding the composer:-

John Tavener - 1.click here 2. click here

Links to information regarding the harpist:-

Emma Ramsdale - 1. click here

________

Summer 2001

Tuesday 26^th June at 8.00 p.m.

As part of the Tillingham Festival we performed the four part version of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater.

Venue:-

St. Nicholas Church, Tillingham, Essex, UK
For the location of St. Nicholas church click here.

_______

Links to information regarding the composer:-

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi - 1. click here 2. click here 3. click here

________

9^th December 2000 at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme:-

The New-Born King - Gordon Jacob
A Christmas Cantata for Baritone solo, mixed voices and piano

Interval

I Sing of a Maiden         -           Lennox Berkeley
Missa Brevis                -             Lennox Berkeley
Kyrie – Gloria – Sanctus – Benedictus - Agnus Dei
Saraband and Sleigh Ride        -          Leroy Anderson
for piano duet
Nativity Carol              -          John Rutter
Good King Wenceslas          -           Piae Cantiones
                                         arr. Reginald Jacques
The Shepherds’ Farewell          -           Hector Berlioz
  Once in Royal David’s City          -         H. J. Gauntlett
While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night - Este’s Psalter

Choir:-                        The Burnham Music Group
Guest Soloist:-            Baritone - Benjamin Davies

Organist:-                            Jeremy Plummer
                                                (See below for biography)
Conductor:-                        Eric Stephenson

Links to information regarding the composers:-

Sir Lennox Berkeley - 1. click here 2. click here 3. click here

Gordon Jacob - 1. click here 2. click here 3. click here

________

17th June 2000 at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme included:-

Andrew Carter: Musick's Jubilee
Franz Joseph Haydn: Te Deum

Four hands one piano:-

Lennox Berkeley: Sonatina
Dvorak: Two Slavonic Dances
Bizet: Petit Mari, Petite Femme!...
Le Bal

Choir:-                        The Burnham Music Group
Guest Soloists:-         Soprano - Hilary Dolamore
                                    Soprano - Meinir Wyn Thomas
                                      Alto - Helen Foster Brookes

Organist:-                            Jeremy Plummer
Pianists:-            Eric Stephenson & Jeremy Plummer
Conductor:-                         Eric Stephenson

Links to information regarding the composers:-

Sir Lennox Berkeley - 1. click here 2. click here 3. click here

Andrew Carter - 1. click here 2. click here

________

11th December 1999 at 7.45 p.m.

Venue:- St Mary's Church, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK

Programme included:-

J. S. Bach: Magnificat in D
A selection of Carols for Choir, Soloists and Audience

Choir:- The Burnham Music Group
Guest Soloists:-

Soprano - Hilary Dolamore
Soprano - Saffron van Zwanenberg
Alto - Helen Foster Brookes
Tenor - Tom Raskin
Baritone - Nigel Brookes

Organist:- Jeremy Plummer
Conductor:- Eric Stephenson

________

SOLOISTS BIOGRAPHIES:-

BASS - JOHN BERNAYS:-

For short biography click here.

________

OUR PREVIOUS CONDUCTOR AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR :-

Eric Stephenson: After 14 years with the BMG Eric decided to lay down his baton in August 2006 and retire from the BMG . He will be missed by us all and we wish him a long and happy retirement. Eric Stephenson studied at The Royal Academy of Music. His career since then has been devoted to developing musical awareness and interest of young people from all walks of life and in teaching while maintaining his performance work in piano. He was a pioneer in the sixties when his post at Kingsdale School in Dulwich enabled him to bring to over 2,000 boys and girls a wide-ranging experience in all choral and instrumental music. The school became famous for its achievements in musical education and performance and for the opportunities given to every pupil and not simply the obviously talented.

He then became the first Music Adviser for Warwickshire initiating learning opportunities county wide and then was appointed to the London Borough of Hillingdon where twenty years were spent in developing tuition in every orchestral instrument for children aged five and upwards with free lessons as of right provided by the Authority.

Since leaving Hillingdon, Eric spends most of his time practising, teaching and directing the Burnham Music Group. He was elected ARAM for his services to music.

PREVIOUS ORGANIST:-

Jeremy Plummer was Organ Scholar at Brasenose College, Oxford, between 1967 and 1970, studying during this period with John Webster and James Dalton. After a period as assistant organist at All Saints, High Wycombe, with Alastair Ross, he was organist and choirmaster of a number of churches in West London,
and Musical Director of "The Nave" in Uxbridge. He now works as organist and teacher in Berkshire as well as leading Musical Retreats and Training Days in Church Music.

Jeremy has a wide experience as a choir trainer and as an accompanist on piano, organ and harpsichord. Since taking a post-graduate degree in Music Education at Reading University in 1990, he has had a developing interest in the way in which meeting music changes people, particularly in the context of Christian worship. This has led to a series of workshops in Music and Worship, Music and Prayer and Music and Healing.

His particular interests in organ music are the music of J S Bach - so much so that he has done a "sponsored play" of the complete works - and twentieth century organ music, Hindesmith and Kenneth Leighton being favourites.

Jeremy is currently Director of Music at the Victoria Hall in Bolton and Training Officer for the Methodist Church Music Society. He accompanies professional singers and has done consultancy work with schools for GCSE and A Level Music as well as leading an Evening Class entitled "Singing for the Terrified" and directing a Methodist Circuit Choir. He is now studying for an MA in Music and Liturgy at Leeds University.

Jeremy performed regularly with the Burnham Music Group and has worked with Eric Stephenson over a number of years.