A year ago I was commissioned to compose a brand new song for Beaconsfield Festival of Choirs! I chose to set a poem by Walter de la Mare called ‘Trees’ for all the various choir types including a treble only version for schools to sing. Last weekend I had the great pleasure of attending this wonderful festival in Buckinghamshire to not only hear the song performed for the first time, but also to conduct all 30 choirs singing it jointly across 5 different concerts! Massive thanks to Jane Smith for organising such a brilliant event and to Timothy Allen for recommending me this year!  I was delighted with the results and will be making the song available for all other choir very soon. Here is the final performance I conducted at the festival sung by seven choirs! https://youtu.be/tHv1UPUBKeY?si=WzC1djoxU4Mn-PIx

Last Sunday I conducted two Tynedale choirs in a mass performance of two of ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘The Simple Things’. Dark Sky Voices and Tyne Valley Voices (directed by Simon Fidler-Davies) certainly delivered the goods after just one rehearsal together! I selected both of these songs during Lockdown to create virtual performances (see Youtube Channel!) so it was extra special being able to hear them really come to life in a beautiful church acoustic with a full house listening! To end the concert, Simon conducted a performance of my new arrangement of ‘Peace like a River’ and I got to play my saxophone!! Thanks to all involved. A memorable day for sure!.

All three songs will be included in a follow up concert on March 17th in Hexham at West End Church 2.30pm.

Thank you so much to everyone who signed up and attended my 3rd session this year. St Andrew’s Church was the perfect setting for this festive occasion and with 30 voices, we really did raise the roof in some of the songs, particularly after some mulled wine!
It was great to work with such lovely people, including Nicki on piano. Here’s to many more musical gatherings!

I realise that most choir leaders are currently thinking about their festive programmes right now, but for those who are super organised or planning ahead to 2024, this brand new score for upper voice choir and piano, might just fit the bill! Inspired by the sighting of a cuckoo as I was walking one Summer’s evening, this 4 minute song has a bit of everything for your singers to enjoy! To view the score and hear the draft recording, please head over to the SHOP (General Choral). Hope you like it!

To mark International World Peace Day yesterday, I led over 200 school children in a mass performance of ‘In a Peaceful World‘ (my Sing Up song commission from 2017) and a special arrangement of  ‘I’ve Got Peace Like a River‘ in Hexham Abbey.

This performance was a joyous way to end a singing project that involved seven schools from Hexham and Corbridge. (First, Middle and High) Thank you to Hexham Abbey Festival and all the various local sponsors who helped make this happen!

Well done to all the schools involved. You were awesome! 

Tickets are now on sale for my final singing workshop this year. Come and join me, the accompanist and some special guest musicians in the beautiful acoustic of St Andrew’s Church in Corbridge, Northumberland, for an afternoon of festive choral music.
All voice parts welcome…sheet music/words will be provided. More details on Eventbrite here.

The sale on all my festive choral titles has been extended until the end of September! I realise how busy choir leaders and teachers can be at the start of term so hoping a bit more time might help some of you out!
Please head across to the SHOP and search for CHRISTMAS CHORAL

For those currently planning Christmas concerts, all my festive scores have been reduced to £1 a copy for the month of August!
Just head across to my online SHOP and find the Christmas choral section where you can have a look at the scores and a listen too! Most are now available for mixed and upper voice choirs.