A NEW choir will be making their debut at Knutsford Fringe Music Festival.
Bars, pubs and cafes will be hosting exciting concerts alongside headline events in the three-day event from Friday, June 10, to Sunday, June 12.
Counterpoint, Cheshire’s newly formed a cappella group, will be performing at St John’s Church in Knutsford at 8pm on Friday.
Conductor Steven Benson, from Knutsford, formed the choir especially for the festival.
The gifted musician said: “It’s a small group of 14 voices drawn from diverse backgrounds but almost semi-professional.
“Many have experience in producing, conducting or teaching music.
“We have a programme of unaccompanied music from the 17th century to the present day.
READ > Knutsford War Memorial campaigners hope for demolition reprieve
“For two of the pieces we are being accompanied by oboe, cello and organ.”
The concert entitled ‘Sing Me To Heaven’ includes a mixture of choral classics and music from the shows.
Steven was appointed organist and choirmaster of a parish church in Belfast when he was 19, while studying for an engineering degree.
His job as a producer and director in the BBC’s religious programmes department saw him responsible for some of the largest royal event coverage, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Thanksgiving Service at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2002.
Steven now sings with the Northern Cathedral Singers.
Two years ago, he made a documentary about the rebuilding of the organ in King’s College.
The musician, who has just finished building a small pipe organ at home, is now embarking on another film about the past and present of choral evensong.
Guest performers will be joining the concert.
Eleanor Woods, a former pupil of Egerton Primary School, will be singing a selection of arias and songs from the shows.
The soprano plans to study the graduate diploma in vocal performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in September.
Eleanor, from Knutsford, has been singing since she was 11.
Olivia Hunt, former head chorister at Chester Cathedral, will be singing some of the most demanding pieces in the repertoire.
She was a finalist at BBC Radio 2's Young Chorister of the Year competition.
Olivia has performed at many local and international festivals.
She has recorded two solo albums and her third is set for release soon.
The programme for Friday's concert includes Gregorio Allegri’s setting of Psalm 51 ‘Miserere Mei, Deus’, written in 1630 for the Sistine Chapel.
Steven said: "This is the most demanding lines in the church music repertoire."
Bach’s ‘Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring’ will be accompanied by organ, cello and oboe.
Stanford’s haunting motet ‘The Blue Bird’ will also be performed.
To book tickets visit linktr.ee/singmetoheaven
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here