Sunday 18 June 2023

LONDON PRO ARTE CHOIR : SUMMER SONGS June 17 2023

SUMMER SONGS
LONDON PRO ARTE CHOIR
SATURDAY 17 JUNE 2023
ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH, MILL HILL

The annual summer concert was performed in St Michael's church to a very full and appreciative audience on a lovely summer's day. 

The first act began with accompanist Paul Ayres' 13th Century round about Summer which was followed by a World Premiere of David Stoll's arrangement of the Shakespeare speech " All the World's a Stage".  Both set the tone for a very enjoyable evening.  The new piece was warmly received by the audience. Paul then played a piano piece.

A summer song by William Byrd showed off the fine sopranos on top form before a medley "Songs of Springtime" by EJ Moeran brought the first half to a close. 

It was heartening to see the rush to the produce and book stalls plus the wine and strawberries during the interval.  Mill Hill's people know how to enjoy a summer's day ! 

The second act began with anther composition by Paul Ayres who set Byrd's choir instructions to a lively set of tunes for a choir showing off different parts of the choir.  Great fun.   

An Elgar and Stanford summer song were then performed with the choir sounding fantastic in The Blue Bird by Stanford. Another solo on the piano followed - "Here Comes The Sun" - which the audience loved.

As in the first act there was a set of songs to complete the programme.  This was a set of Shakespearian Summer Songs set by Shearing.   Some are well known songs often played on radio and it was the perfect end to a fantastic concert.

The choir were directed by Tom Winpenny who kept the choir light and summery throughout the evening.  Paul Ayres who wrote two of the songs and accompanied with great aplomb on the piano replaced the advertised pianist on the day of the concert.   Thank you to him for stepping in to make sure the concert could go ahead.


JOIN THE CHOIR 

The London Pro Arte Choir are looking for new members to come and sing.  In recent years several singers have left London and some have retired from performance.    This means there is currently a great opportunity to join an established choir with professional direction.  We recommend that you consider joining whether a beginner or an experienced singer.   The London Pro Arte Choir is the jewel in the area's musical life and history with a fantastic friendly group of singers.  Contact the choir via their website.

WEBSITE


COME AND SING

A chance to try out singing in a choir is being run for free in the next weeks. Details on flyer below. Totally informal and includes singing some well known pieces such as Zadok The Priest which we all heard during the Coronation.  Just turn up on the day - all music is provided. ( Note there are also open rehearsals on September 14 and 21 for The Seasons )


DATE FOR DIARY

The next concert by the LONDON PRO ARTE CHOIR at St Michael's Church in Mill Hill is the epic SEASONS by Joseph Haydn.   This takes place on Saturday 18 November at 7.30p.m.  Tickets will go on sale from September via the website.  A sell out audience is expected for this very popular concert and so we suggest you call into the website from September onwards in order to get your tickets or get them from a choir member the moment they are released.    The support from the community for the concerts is fabulous and much appreciated by the choir.


Review courtesy of Mill Hill Today. 



Saturday 17 June 2023

Mill Hill Music Festival

 The Festival is back again this year with a full programme including the Mikado at the Hartley Hall and the big Friday night party at Mill Hill Golf Club with the Pogue Traders.

Tickets on sale now from

https://millhillmusicfest.co.uk/



Thursday 9 February 2023

CONCERT LONDON PRO ARTE CHOIR MARCH 18 2023 TICKETS ON SALE

 The next concert in Mill Hill is on Saturday 18 March.

Tickets are on sale now. From the website and on the Broadway,

See flyer for details.




Sunday 20 November 2022

REVIEW LPAC CHOIR | Mozart Requiem | Saturday 19 November 2022. St Michaels Church Mill Hill

 LONDON PRO ARTE CHOIR
SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER
ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH
Philippa Boyle - Soprano
Claire Eadington - Mezzo
Oliver Martin-Smith Tenor
Julian Chou-Lambert -Baritone
Martyn Noble Organ
Orpheus Sinfonia
CONDUCTOR - TOM WINPENNY

It was exciting to see a packed church for this concert.  Putting the covid years behind us all ! on a chilly Saturday evening in Mill Hill.

The Choir have to be the hardest working choir in North London because rather than just performing Mozart's famous Requiem they also treated the audience to a performance of the lively Maria Theresa Mass.

The Orchestra and Choir were based at the West End of the Church on tiered seating, with the four professional soloists in front of them.   The Haydn mass was a very good first half selection.   A baroque masterpiece that had some of the features of the Mozart piece.  Such as the four soloists combining throughout to deliver lines from the mass, interspersed with singing from the choir.   The mass was warmly received by the audience.

After the interval and a huge scrum for the Produce Stall ( I am pleased to report one of our group managed to buy 3 lovely jams ! ) the Mozart was performed for the first time for about 7 years in Mill Hill. 

In my review of that 2015 performance I mentioned how the size of the church made it the perfect place to hear this work.    Once again it was marvellous to hear a young orchestra The Orpheus Sinfonia start up the Requiem in our beautiful church.  For about 45 minutes the choir and soloists sang their hearts out in this exceptional piece of music.   It went so fast.  It was like being immersed in a glorious sound wave that the Conductor Tom Winpenny coaxed out of his gathered forces.

It was a fantastic evening,  Two major works for the price of one,   The Mozart remains one of my favourite pieces and I am already looking forward to hearing the Pro Arte Choir perform it again in the future !

We are so lucky to have live music to this high standard on our doorstep and Father Steven Young introduced the evening with these sentiments.   St Michael's is ideal for music and the Choir and their Director continue to strive to give us the best music.  The concerts are a major event in the local community's social calendar for all that love live music.  If you don't yet attend then make sure you get a ticket for forthcoming events - tickets are always available on the door as well. 

Next Concert is the Annual Carols for Choir and Audience on Saturday 10 December at 5p.m in St Michaels Church. Look our for the posters on Social Media with all details and see it below. Please share with friends and invite them along.  It is always a joyous celebration of Christmas for everyone.

Advance Notice : Spring Concert is on Saturday 18 March | Rossini – Petite Messe Solennelle

If you wish to join the choir and be part of this fabulous group then go to their website www.lpac.org.uk for more information.







Tuesday 6 September 2022

WE ARE BACK FROM OUR SUMMER HOLIDAYS !

 The team have returned from their summer holidays refreshed and ready to bring you the latest from Mill Hill Broadway.

We have been writing this blog for 13 years.   It is still the most read MILL HILL blog.   The only one that regularly updates and the most read.

With other great Mill Hill community publications ; Mill Hill Today the areas monthly newspaper and the much loved Mill Hill Guide the area is provided with excellent news and information in a completely positive way.    Social Media can be full of moaners and misinformation.    This blog and the other established publications meet the highest standards of journalistic reporting and so we are pleased to be the most trusted source of information.    

Our photographs and exclusive stories are shared by the other sites and individuals in the area - so if you are a business or organisation then make sure you are listed on our directories and advertise in our publications.    With millions of views per year you will reach more local people than any other way ! Ideal to promote offers - events - and services.    That is why events we cover are usually full !  and we have helped launch many new places here on Broadway and the NW7 area.

Thanks for reading and the huge support we get from the local area for what we do,   It is a voluntary service - no ads are on this blog - we take not a penny for our writing and publishing.   It is a pure labour of love for the area.   

Look out for a HUGE Christmas Campaign which starts on NOVEMBER 1st.     To make 2023 the best ever for the Broadway !

THE BLOGGERS


NEW OPENING IN AUGUST | Joice Cafe

 Only one opening in August but a great addition to the Broadway.

JOICE CAFE is an independent  chain serving great food and coffee.   Based in the old Santender Bank site next to Iceland it has outside seating and a wide menu.   

It is already very busy and it will be reviewed in MILL HILL TODAY in the Autumn.

Visit it and enjoy !

Joice before it opened recently


MILL HILL TODAY | September Edition read here

 The areas monthly newspaper is out after their summer break.

Now in its seventh calendar year ( Founded 2017 ) the newspaper brings the latest news, reviews and sport from the local area.   With cheap advertising for businesses and organisations.

In this edition

FESTIVAL ROUND UP

REVIEWS

SHOCK NEWS ABOUT PENTAVIA AND AMAZON

Local Directory

Mill Hill Guide latest news

Read it here for FREE

https://issuu.com/arcmediagroup/docs/millhilltodaysept2022