Oratorio Choir
The Oratorio Choir is a non-auditioned choir open to all singers, performing a standard classical repertoire.
The Addison Oratorio Choir is a non-auditioned choir open to all singers who perform much of the standard repertoire, as well as a wide range of new and more recent music, including several works written especially for them, for example, Howard Goodall, Cecilia Mc Dowall and Judith Weir.
We have regularly toured abroad, most recently, Budapest, Salzburg and Vienna. We sing something appropriate to the place and in the native language too.
Rehearsals have resumed face to face since Autumn 2021, with Covid risk assessment and Covid safe measures in place.
Matthew Thomas Morgan - our newly appointed Music Director, Classical - takes up his post in January 2023.
Conductor: Matthew Thomas Morgan
Ability: Mixed
Duration: 2 hours, 10 weeks
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Membership subscription: £94.00 - price includes all music
Venue: Malinowa room, 2nd floor POSK
Repertoire:
Previous works performed under David Wordsworth include:
Bach – Christmas Oratorio, Magnificat
Bernstein – Chichester Psalms
Britten – Rejoice in the Lamb
Chilcott – Canticles of Light, Jubilate
Dvorak – Mass in D
Faure – Requiem
Goodall – Eternal Light
Handel – Messiah, Coronation Anthems, Dettingen Te Deum
Haydn – The Creation, Nelson Mass, Te Deum in C
Lauridsen – Lux Aeterna, O magnum mysterium, Dirait-on
Montague – Christmas Triptych
Monteverdi – Beatus Vir
Mozart – Requiem, Coronation Mass, Solemn Vespers
Orff – Carmina Burana
Rossini – Petite Messe Solennelle
Rutter – Magnificat : Birthday Madrigals, Feel the Spirit
Schubert – Mass in C , Mass in G
Vaughan Williams – Five Mystical Songs,Serenade to Music
Vivaldi – Gloria
Walton – Coronation Te Deum
Premieres include:
William Bolcom – Two Meditations on George Herbert (commissioned by the Addison Singers:world premiere)
Bob Chilcott – Carol: Jesus, Jesus, rest your head (world premiere)
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies – Proverb (London premiere)
Gabriel Jackson – Hymn to St Petroc of Cornwall (commissioned by the Addison Singers: world premiere)
Jill Jarman – The Listening Tree (commissioned by the Addison Singers: world premiere)
Cecilia McDowall – The Angels for the Nativity (commissioned by the Addison Singers : world premiere)
Graham Redwood – How the Flute was Born (commissioned by The Addison Singers: world premiere)
Ned Rorem – Three Motets (London premiere)
Edwin Roxburgh – Lament (world premiere)
Howard Skempton – That Music All Around Me (London premiere)
Joby Talbot – Ave verum corpus (London premiere)
Mark-Anthony Turnage – Leaving (London premiere)
NEW members: Please enrol online before term starts by first registering online (click on Register in the top menu bar and fill in the form with your details, choose a password). You can then login as a member (click on Members in the top menu bar) by entering your email and password.
Once logged in the Members section, you can purchase an Oratorio Choir membership (click on Purchase your memberships), go through Checkout, choose a payment method and confirm. You will receive an email confirmation.
Rehearsal tracks: these are provided free online as downloadable files, but if you require a physical CD please order one (£6) at least a week before term starts, so there is time to produce it for you.
EXISTING members: To enrol you need to first access the Members section - click on Members in the top menu bar, then log in with your email address and/or reset your password. Choose your membership(s), go through Checkout, select a payment method and confirm. You will receive an email confirmation.
Alternatively, if there are still places available, you can enrol at the first meeting of the term – but you may have to queue. After the term has started please contact us to ask about enrolling.
Voice tests for new members to the Oratorio Choir
To assist our new members/tasters to 'find their voice' in the choir, we will ask that each singer :
1. Sing a note played on the piano
2. Sing up a scale played on the piano
3. Clap a simple rhythm
This will take place at the first rehearsal for new members and those joining for a Taster Session. It is nothing onerous or anything to be scared of! Rather, we hope it will ensure that you get even more enjoyment out of singing with us as you will be singing the correct voice part for you!
Taster Session
Any potential new member is welcome to try a 'taster session' during either the first or second rehearsal of term to see if they would like to join a choir or class. Please let the Membership Coordinator know if you would like to try one rehearsal. If you are trying a choir, we will arrange for you to share music with a 'buddy' who will be able to answer any questions you may have. At the end of the session we hope you will decide to join and you will be asked to complete the online enrolment and pay for the full term (or pro rata if not the first session). Please make sure to enrol online by the end of week 2 or contact the Membership Coordinator to let her know of any special circumstances.
Rehearsal Schedule and attendance
There will be a Rehearsal Schedule for the term, so singers will know where to concentrate their practice before each rehearsal. Also, please note, that members who wish to sing in the concert should attend at least 80% of rehearsals, unless otherwise agreed by Matthew Thomas Morgan, our Music Director.
If you wish to join more than one choir, the following discounts will be applied directly in your shopping basket:
Concessions
We do not offer concessionary rates currently but if you are on a low income and would like to request a discount, please apply to the Chair of The Addison Group of Singers directly (chairaddison@gmail.com) or via the membership Coordinator (addisonadmin@gmail.com). All requests are confidential.
Payment methods
You can pay by:
- bank transfer online (BACS) to our bank account (CAF) to:
The Addison Group of Singers.
Sort code 40-52-40.
Account 00016259.
Please put your last name, choir/class and term as the payee reference (eg SMITH OC VT SPR14). This is our preferred method of payment, it doesn't cost you or us anything.
- cheque, please add your bank card number on the reverse of your cheque, made payable to The Addison Group of Singers. Please enclose a SAE if you would like us to send a receipt.
- credit/debit card. We are now able to offer a card payment option. A small fee is payable to cover the cost of the transaction. Please select Debit/Credit Card payment on the Checkout page and follow instructions. You will receive an email confirmation.
First rehearsal: Wednesday 11 January 2023
Time: 7.30-9.30pm
Cost: £94.00 (includes all music)
Place: Malinowa Room, 2nd Floor, Polish Centre, 238 King Street, W6 0RF
Half Term: Wednesday 15 February (NO REHEARSAL)
Last rehearsal: Wednesday 22 March 2023
Music:
Gerald Finzi - Let us now praise famous men, Op. 35
John Rutter - Requiem
Joint Chamber and Oratorio Choirs concert: Saturday 25 March 2023, 7.30pm @ St Peter's Church, Southfield Road, London, W4 1BB
First rehearsal: Wednesday 26 April 2023
Time: 7.30-9.30pm
Cost: £94.00 to include all music
Place: Malinova Room, 2nd Floor, Polish Centre, 238 King Street, W6 0RF
Half term: Wednesday 31 May 2023 (NO REHEARSAL)
Last rehearsal: Wednesday 5 July 2023 (10 weeks)
Music:
- VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Serenade to Music
- Fredrick DELIUS Midsummer Song
- Fredrick DELIUS To be sung of a Summer Night on the Water
- Cecilia McDOWALL A Fancy of Folksongs
- Bob CHILCOTT Songs & Cries of London Town
Joint concert Classical Choirs: Saturday 8 July 2023 @ St Peter's Church, Southfield Rd, London W4 1BB
First rehearsal: Wednesday 20 September 2023
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
Cost: £94 - price includes all music
Venue: Malinowa room, 2nd floor, Polish Centre, 238 King Street, W6 0RF.
Half Term: Wednesday 25 October 2023 (NO REHEARSAL)
Last rehearsal: Wednesday 29 November 2023 (10 weeks)
Music:
Franz Joseph Haydn - The Creation, parts I, II and III (in English)
Oratorio Choir Concert with orchestra: Saturday 2 December 2023 @ St Peter's Church, Southfield Rd, London W4 1BB