Spring 2024 Concert
I
Saturday November 18th 2023
at Grimsby Minster
commencing at 7.30pm
Fauré,s Requiem and Caroline Leighton’s Requiem
This was a wonderful evening of music. Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem is an all-time favourite for singers and audiences alike and this will be a concert premier for Caroline Leighton’s Requiem. It was wonderful to have Caroline Leighton with us and delightful to see her pleasure at our performance.
Look out for a recording of Caroline’s Requiem, which the choir completed in lockdown, which will soon be released on Grimsby Bach Choir’s YouTube Channel.
Our Summer concert 2023 was at
Keelby Methodist Church
We were asked to join Keelby Community Choir and performed alone and jointly at an informal concert suitable for a summer evening. The weather finally delivered on the sunshine that the East coast had been missing this year!
The concert featured soloist
Elizabeth Opie (Mezzo Soprano)
The music included items by Henry Mancini, Mozart (assisted by Mike Batt), Flanders and Swann, Duke Ellington and appropriately Bach. There were also traditional songs but all designed to amuse and delight an audience looking to enjoy an evening of music and fun.
A Teddy Bear’s Picnic at a 2019 GBC Summer Concert
Christmas 2022
At last we could really enjoy a concert with a packed Grimsby Minster. It felt just like the good times before lockdown.
Visit our gallery page for more pictures of our Christmas concert 2022.
Christmas 2021
The Colours of Christmas was the final concert for us with Steven Maxson as our Musical Director. It was great to be back at Grimsby Minster for a live Christmas Concert, and it seemed a fitting occasion to bid him farewell and wish him all the best for the future.
Our Chairman, Peter Opie presented him with a parting gift.
The Pandemic meant no in-person concerts during 2020. However, the Choir continue to meet for rehearsals every week, albeit online rather than in the same building. The 2020 season culminated in an online Wassail, featuring Virtual Choir performances, socially distanced performances from members of the Bach Chorale, and items from individual choir members. The Concert is available to watch online:
9th November 2019 The President’s Concert was held at Grimsby Town Hall and showcased our
President Richard Markham, a fitting collaboration in our 50th year.
He and the Choir, conducted by Steven Maxson and accompanied by David Parker, gave a Piano and Choral Concert at Grimsby Town Hall on Saturday 9 November 2019 at 7.30pm. This concert continued the 50th anniversary celebrations of Grimsby Bach Choir but it was also just 50 years ago that Richard gave a “farewell performance” on taking up his Piano Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music.
Richard, in 2019 a youthful 67, has returned on numerous occasions during the last 50 years to perform in his native town. Notable in earlier years were concerto appearances with the Royal Philharmonic and English Chamber Orchestras and a marathon performance of all five Beethoven Piano Concertos plus the Choral Fantasy (a work to be included in the concert on 9 November) with Jeffery Babb and Grimsby Bach Choir. In the last ten years he has appeared in, and help to organise, memorable events such as 90th birthday tribute concerts to Dorothy Dean (with fellow Grimbarian, actress Patricia Hodge) and Jeffery Babb, four Choral Gala concerts at the Central Hall, for which he also made the musical arrangements for massed local choral societies, and the 50th and 60th anniversary concerts for Grimsby Concert Society.
He devised an extremely attractive programme for the Town Hall concert, including Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Constant Lambert’s jazzy and evocative The Rio Grande, Vaughan Williams’ beautiful Serenade to Music, Elgar’s uplifting From the Bavarian Highlands and solo pieces by Brahms.
Grimsby Bach Choir was thrilled that Richard is playing with the choir to help celebrate its 50th Anniversary Year. The music gave the audience a chance to hear wonderful pieces accompanied by two pianos and solos from our world-class Concert Pianist President Richard Markham.
Our Summer Concert 2019 was at St Augustine’s Church Grimsby DN32 0LD
27th April 2019 the choir performed Handel’s Messiah as part of our 50th years celebrations inviting previous members and conductors to come back to help us celebrate this magical work.
The concert took place at Grimsby Minster at 7.30 pm on Saturday 27th April 2019
We had a full orchestra and all the soloists either had a connection with the choir of come from the local area.
Our solo Soprano was Andrea Maxson who has sung with us many times.
Our solo tenor was Thomas Drew who grew up in Cleethorpes and now performs all over the world.
Our Bass Baritone soloist was Alan Fairs who has also performed with us many times the most recent being in The Creation last November.
Our Counter Tenor soloist was David Whitworth who was a member of the choir whilst he was at school locally.
22nd December 2018 Our Christmas Wassail again took place at Grimsby Town Hall The evening was a traditional mix of Christmas songs, arias old and new and again featured solo items by members of the choir.
The Creation oratorio written between 1797 and 1798 by Joseph Haydn and considered by many to be his masterpiece. The oratorio depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis.
The work is structured in three parts and scored for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, chorus and a symphonic orchestra. In parts I and II, depicting the creation, the soloists represent the archangels Raphael (bass), Uriel(tenor) and Gabriel(soprano). In part III, the bass and soprano represent Adam and Eve.
November 11th 2017 at Grimsby Minster
Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Rutter’s Requiem
Grimsby Minster on Saturday November 11th At 7.30 pm
Tickets £12 under 16s and student free of charge
Available from Grimsby Minster & 01472 870292
Security on Cartergate Car Park
Grimsby Bach Choir was thrilled to be involved in Hull’s City of Culture celebrations in 2017. We performed with Hull Choral Union and Grimsby Philharmonic Society in Hull City Hall at 7.30 pm on April 1st 2017.
Hull City of Culture concert with Hull Choral Union, Grimsby Philharmonic Choir, and Grimsby Bach Choir
The performance included Anthony Hedges ‘A Bridge for the Living’ which was performed in 1976 for the opening of the Humber Bridge and Vaughan Williams’ ‘Sea Symphony.’ Youth choirs from Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire performed songs related to the sea and communications.
Follow the links to a recording of the Hedges piece:-
https://soundcloud.com/anthony-hedges/bridge-for-the-living
Sponsored by the National Lottery this was an evening to remember.
17th December 2016 Wassail – Grimsby Town Hall.
As ever, this was a fun evening starting at 7.15 pm with the first serving of mulled wine, mince pies and German stollen. The singing got underway at 7.30pm and the first and last sections was a lovely mix of carols old and new with ample opportunity for the audience to have a good sing too!
The middle section presented a final opportunity to purchase raffle tickets as well as a special Christmas surprise!
For Information about previous concerts, please click here.
19th November 2016
Gala Concert ‘Jeffery Babb @ 90’ Last Night of the Proms
Promoted by Grimsby Bach Choir and Grimsby Symphony Orchestra: including Serenade to Music; featuring Richard Markham playing The Warsaw Concerto; and all your favourites from the Last Night of the Proms. In the main hall at Grimsby Central Hall
Richard Markham Grimsby Bach Choir President since 2015
This was Jeff’s final concert conducting in Grimsby and it was wonderful that so many people who benefited from his enthusiastic musical promotion within the area returned and made it a weekend to remember.
Photo courtesy of The Cleethorpes Chronicle
Summer Concerts 2016
As usual Grimsby Bach Choir was on tour this summer visiting Waltham and Caistor.
Each concert also featured local young musical talent and contained something old and something new. Lighthearted music for a summer evening!
25th June 2016 Summer Concert – All Saints Parish Church, Waltham
The guest slots were performed by members of the Grimsby Music Hub which GBC is really happy to support.
2nd July 2016 Summer Concert – St Peter and St Paul Parish Church, Caistor.
There will be guest slots from local young musicians which is part of GBC’s mission to promote young talent.
May 14th 2016
In The Mood – A Jazz Concert with the Barry Whitfield Trio
An evening of Jazz with favourites such as In the Mood, Ain’t Misbehavin and The Pink Panther as well as some delightful jazz madrigals! The Trio will also be performing some of their own inimitable music. Definitely an evening not to miss
In the Roy Kemp Suite Café Style at Grimsby Central Hall
The Christmas Wassail will take place at Grimsby Town Hall again this year – please note it it NOT at Grimsby Minster as previously advertised.
The evening opens at 7.15 pm with the first serving of punch, mince pies and German stollen. Raffle tickets will be on sale and there will be time to socialise with old friends before the singing begins at 7.30 pm.
The Guest performer this year will be local violinist Juliet Hayley – a treat not to be missed!
November 14th 2015.
A Concert of French music set in the wonderful acoustic of Grimsby Minster. We hoped to transport people to a cathedral in France surrounded by the sound of the two magnificent organs and the singing of Grimsby Bach Choir. The smell of incense greeting the audience on what turned out to be a very moving event because of the recent events in Paris. The second half started with a minutes silence and then we sang the Duruflé Requiem in memory of the Parisian victims.
Louis Vierne – Messe Solennelle In C Sharp Minor Op.16
Louis Vierne – Cortège from Trois Improvisations reconstructed by Maurice Duruflé – Grand Orgue: Anthony Pinel
Maurice Duruflé – Requiem
May 16th 2015
At The Madhouse Grimsby (www.themadhousegy.co.uk)
The Markham Hall, St James School Bargate Grimsby DN34 4SY)
A Night at the Opera
The concert featured The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco, The Anvil Chorus from Il Travatore, The Bell chorus from Pagliacci, The waltz scene from Eugene Onegin, the wonderful March of the Toreadors from Carmen and many more in café style surroundings.
The concert was accompanied on piano by the choir’s Assistant Musical Director David Parker and conducted as usual by Musical Director, Steven Maxson.
A most enjoyable event in relaxed surroundings new to the choir. The Madhouse staff were very helpful and supportive and a good time was had by all!
Grimsby Bach Choir at The Madhouse St James’ School Grimsby 2015: Soloists Andrea Maxson, Sarah Wilkes and Laurence Price
The choir had a most successful joint concert with Grimsby Philharmonic Choir at Grimsby Central Hall in October 2014 when they performed Bach’s glorious B Minor Mass to great acclaim. It was wonderful to see a packed Central Hall for the concert and we are already making plans for our next joint concert possibly in 2017.
Photo published courtesy of the Cleethorpes Chronicle: the two choirs at a workshop for Bach’s B Minor Mass
Songs from Stage and Screen, Saturday, 3 May, 2014, 7.30pm
Grimsby Bach Choir in full flow during the Songs from Stage and Screen concert at Grimsby Central Hall. Photograph courtesy of The Peoples Publication.
The Choir performed music from a variety of Broadway, West End, and film musicals and shows, including Mamma Mia, Oliver, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Porgy and Bess, Sweet Charity, A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma, amongst many others! We were joined by pianist James Vaughan, and solos were provided by members of the Choir, and by Andrea Maxson. The Roy Kemp Suite at Grimsby Central Hall was laid out in café style, with a licensed bar, and proved to be an ideal setting. The capacity audience very much enjoyed the concert, and an online magazine, The Peoples Publication, provided a critique of the concert, which can be read in this issue.
Grimsby Bach Choir’s concert on 9th November 2013 was at Grimsby Minster, St James Square Grimsby at 7.30pm. Entitled Grimsby Bach Choir ‘Sings Baroque’ the concert contained music by Purcell, Bach and Vivaldi.
The first half consisted of Purcell’s delightful ‘Come Ye Sons of Art’ and Bach’s ‘Cantata No 147’ which, of course contains the wonderful theme usually set to the words ‘Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring’. The second half was taken up with Vivaldi’s magnificent ‘Gloria’
The choir was accompanied by the Bach Sinfonia and Anthony Pinel on Organ. The following crit was in the Grimsby Telegraph a few days later: –
Uplifting Performance
Baroque some say, is the period when classical music became “showbiz”, a familiar term today but certainly not one around during the 1580 to 1730 period to which they are referring.
Listening to this wonderful concert, however which featured works by Purcell, Bach and Vivaldi, it was easy to understand their thought process. Grimsby Bach Choir under the baton of Steven Maxson and accompanied by the Bach Sinfonia, with Rachel England as their leader, treated us to a performance that was distinguished by its ornateness.
A sextet of featured guest soloists, Elizabeth Adams and Sarah Billings (sops) Richard Lindsay and David Whitworth (altos). Thomas Drew (tenor) and Tom Stockwell (bass) ably supported them in this endeavour.
Indeed, such was the audiences delight and on one occasion they broke with convention and, between movements, rewarded the soloists with enthusiastic applause.
Come Ye Sons of Art, composed as an ode to Queen Mary, contained all the hallmarks that one would expect from a composition by Purcell, The programme notes described the composer’s genius as “crafting a musical silk purse from a lyrical sow’s ear” and this performance was like a richly woven silk tapestry.
Bach Cantata Number 147 then followed, perhaps less flowery than Purcell except, that is, for the first and last movements, familiar to us as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring and it was marvellous to hear this in the original setting.
Gloria in D major, the final contribution of the night, was instantly recognisable as Vivaldi and the emphasis on choral movements enable the choir to dominate and allowed us to leave feeling uplifted.
Trevor Ekins
The 2013 Wassail proved to be a great success combining the choir with The Doncaster Waites who played traditional music and instruments as guests arrived, and provided the middle section of the concert.
Here is a selection of the photos taken for the choir on the night and feature official guests, audience and Grimsby Bach Choir and the Waites.
Welcome from the Doncaster Waites
Wassail wassail all over the town…..
The choir in full voice
During the interval everyone enjoys the mulled wine, stolen and minced pies!
The Waites playing before the concert.
We hope to be able to put up two short videos of both the choir and the Waites. The clips need to be edited to fit the website so please bear with us as we grapple with the technology!
The choir are singing Corde Natus Ex Parentis – a plainchant arranged by Musical Director Steven Maxson for Grimsby Bach Choir. The Waites opening traditional number shows some of the instruments that they played during the evening and their wonderful medieval costumes.
The Choir performed a thoroughly English Concert of music by Elgar, Parry and Britten at Grimsby Minster in May 2013. Music included Parry’s rousing I was Glad, the soulful, Ecce sacerdos magnus by Elgar and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Great music in the wonderful venue – Grimsby Minster.
The choir was accompanied by Anthony Pinel on the great West End Organ.
A truly memorable evening.
See Gallery for photos of many events.
Summer Concert, Saturday, 30 June, 2012 7.30pm
Waltham Summer 2012: Picture courtesy of the Cleethorpes Chronicle.
The Choir performed a selection of music for summer, including opera choruses, madrigals and Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass. Our Musical Director, Steven Maxson, played organ solos on the newly restored organ at All Saints’ Church, Waltham. We were delighted to be joined by special guests Eclectic Strings, courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council’s Music and Performing Arts Service, as partners in the North East Lincolnshire Music Hub.
Summer Concert, Saturday, 7 July, 2012 7.30pm
The Choir performed a selection of music for summer, including opera choruses, madrigals and Bob Chilcott’s “A Little Jazz Mass”. Our Musical Director, Steven Maxson, played organ solos on the organ at the Church – much enjoyed by the large audience, as the organ in Goxhill is now rarely used.