GET SINGING!
AUGUST 2024
Greenock Philharmonic Choir recently held a vocal workshop in Old Gourock and Ashton Parish Church.
We were led by our Musical Director, Nicholas Wilks and we were delighted to be joined by the wonderful Laura McFall for a fun day of vocal exercises, singing African songs by ear and then onto some sectional rehearsals for a couple of movements of Brahms’ German Requiem.
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The participants really benefitted from all parts of the day and from Nick and Laura’s expertise to help develop their vocal techniques.
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SPRING CONCERT 2024
Mozart Requiem (Druce Completion).
Handel - Coronation Anthems (Zadok the Priest, The King Shall Rejoice).
In March 2024 the choir held a hugely successful Spring Concert at the Lyle Kirk in Greenock.
Along with Glasgow Chamber Orchestra, we performed the unusual Druce completion of Mozart’s Requiem, along with two Handel Coronation Anthems, including ‘Zadok the Priest’.
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The soloists were Sarah Power (soprano), Sarah Shorter (mezzo soprano), Connor Smith (tenor) and Colin Murray (baritone). The organist was Christopher Nickol.
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CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2023
Saturday 16th December 2023
We held our Christmas Concert in the Lyle Kirk, Greenock. This was our first concert with our new Musical Director, Nicholas Wilks.
The choir were delighted to be joined
again by the Riverside Youth Band, led by Mark Good.
We were also pleased to welcome back
a former member, Ruaraidh McBain, who sang various baritone solo parts.
We were brilliantly accompanied on organ and piano by Chris Nickol.
OUR CONDUCTOR
Nicholas Wilks took up his post as Musical Director of Greenock Philharmonic Choir in summer 2023, having moved to North Ayrshire from Hampshire.
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Nicholas studied conducting and clarinet as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music. His experience as a singer and conductor is wide and varied, and has included a range of musical directorships.
SPRING CONCERT
Saturday 25th March 2023
At the end of March we performed ‘Elijah’ by Mendelssohn in the Lyle Kirk, with Glasgow Chamber Orchestra, and featuring four fantastic soloists - Catriona Hewitson, Penelope Cousland, James Schouten and Ross Cumming.
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This was our last concert with Andy McTaggart as conductor, and he certainly finished on a big high. The music was terrific, the choir sang very well, and the orchestra were outstanding. Ross Cumming was particularly good as Elijah, and we were pleased to feature an octet from within the choir, singing ‘For He shall give His angels charge over thee’.
COME AND JOIN US!
Rehearsals are at 7.15pm on Monday evenings in the Lyle Kirk, Union Street, Greenock. New singers in all sections will be made very welcome.
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This is our first year with Nicholas Wilks as our new musical director, and the choir members are full of anticipation and looking forward to a new era with Nick. After six successful years under the baton of Andy McTaggart, we have exciting plans ahead, including our Christmas Concert on 16th December, and a rarely performed version of Mozart’s Requiem in Spring 2024.
Anybody interested in joining us should contact Lynne MacMillan at
info@greenockphilharmonic.co.uk or Calum Harbison on 07847 250 529.
There are no auditions. Music reading is preferred, but not essential. Please feel free to contact us with any questions at all. We are friendly, rehearsals are fun, and nobody should ever feel under pressure although we do strive to achieve musical excellence!
SONGS OF NIGHT AND DAY
Friday 17th February 2023
An evening of music including opera, musicals and popular song, journeying from dusk to dawn was enjoyed.
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This concert was in the more intimate setting of St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, Union Street, Greenock.
The songs and pieces were a mix of popular and classical song, opera, folk and film music programmed to follow the rising and falling of the sun.
SUPPORT THE MUSIC
There are so many ways in which you can show your support for Greenock Philharmonic Choir.
Sponsorships, donations and attending concerts are only a few of the ways in which you can get involved.
Contact us today to find out how you can make your contribution to the musical culture of Inverclyde.
SPRING 2022 CONCERT
We held our annual Spring Concert in the Lyle Kirk, performing ‘The Creation’ by Haydn. The oratorio depicts the creation of the world as told in the book of Genesis.