An invitation to all enthusiastic amateur singers to join the choir for a Saturday afternoon session in Sunderland Minster from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. to explore some of David Murray’s own settings for sopranos, altos, tenors and basses of the great popular songs from America (e.g. by Gershwin, Jerome Kern and the Carpenters) and indeed from the UK (Lennon & McCartney, Noel Coward), which emerged as our popular culture evolved in the latter part of the twentieth century.

The session will be led by David Murray, our Musical Director, and Anne Marie Owens, our President and one of Britain’s leading mezzo-sopranos. The charge for non-members of the choir is £10, to include score hire, and you can book a place by emailing bcs@bishopwearmouth.co.uk for further details and application form.

A Saturday evening concert in Sunderland Minster, starting at 7.30 p.m., conducted by David Murray.

As the last in our 75th Anniversary season, this concert will feature some of the great popular songs from America, and indeed the UK, which emerged as our popular culture evolved in the latter part of the twentieth century. Written by people such as Gershwin, Jerome Kern and the Carpenters, they have been arranged by David Murray, our Musical Director, for each section of the choir and will be a change from our more usual repertoire and sing some popular song repertoire instead.

Tickets – £15.00 for Nave (£8.00 concessions for full-time students and on income related benefits) or Gallery (limited view) £8.00. Accompanied under 16s free. Tickets will be available from members of the Society, at the door (cash or card), or on-line from www.wegottickets.com/BCS – who also have a direct link on the home page of this website.

Doors open from 6.45 p.m. Apart from seats marked for Patrons, there are no allocated seats.

A Saturday evening concert in Sunderland Minster, starting at 7.30 p.m., conducted by David Murray.

The concert will consist of the Christmas section of Handel’s Messiah and a mix of lovely Chilcott and Rutter favourites.

A Saturday evening concert in Sunderland Minster, starting at 7.30 p.m., conducted by David Murray.

Content to be confirmed.

We seek to plan the proposed programme of concerts for the future as far ahead as is feasible. This may mean that the arrangements and contents of concerts listed here may need to be varied later, but each will be confirmed later by posts on this website

All dates are 7.30 p.m. on Saturdays in Sunderland Minster, unless otherwise noted.

June 15th 2024 – Great American Songbook – Arrangements by David Murray, our Musical Director, of more modern artistes such as the Carpenters.

December 14th 2024 – Christmas Concert – The concert will consist of the Christmas section of Handel’s Messiah and a mix of lovely Chilcott and Rutter favourites.

April 12th 2025 – Hayden ‘Creation’

June 14th 2025 – Brahms ‘Requiem’

December 13th 2025 – Britten ‘St. Nicolas’

A Saturday evening concert in Sunderland Minster, starting at 7.30 p.m., conducted by David Murray.

This concert will be the second in our 75th Anniversary season and will feature Edward Elgar’s ‘The Music Makers‘ and ‘Sea Pictures’ with Hubert Parry’s ‘I was glad‘

Tickets – £15.00 for Nave (£8.00 concessions for full-time students and on income related benefits) or Gallery (limited view) £8.00. Accompanied under 16s free. Tickets will be available from members of the Society, at the door (cash only), or on-line from www.wegottickets.com/BCS – who also have a direct link on the home page of this website.

Doors open from 6.45 p.m. Apart from seats marked for Patrons, there are no allocated seats.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the choral society, David Murray will conduct the choir, world recognised mezzo-soprano Sarah Pring, and the orchestra in Elgar’s iconic cantata.

The libretto is the ode by Arthur O’Shaunessy. Elgar identified himself as the ‘dreamer of dreams’ in the opening lines of the poem and the work as being semi-autobiographical. In doing so he referenced a number of his earlier works – the Enigma Variations, Land of Hope and Glory to mention just two.

The following is the proposed programme of concerts over the coming years. Actual content may be subject to change or additions and all concerts will be advertised as individual items in due course. All dates are 7.30 p.m. on Saturdays in Sunderland Minster unless otherwise noted.

April 4th 2020

St. John Passion – Bach.

June 20th 2020

Requiem – Brahms

December 5th 2020

Messiah – Handel.

March 27th 2021

Petite Messe Solennelle – Rossini.

June 19th 2021

Requiem & Cantique de Jean Racine – Faure, Panis Angelicus – Franck.

December 4th 2021

Content to be confirmed.

A Saturday evening concert, in Sunderland Minster, starting at 7.30 p.m., conducted by David Murray.

This concert will be the first in our 75th Anniversary season and will feature Fantasia on Christmas Carols and Serenade to Music, both by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with special guests and a range of musical surprises.

Soloist – Anna Dias

Tickets – £15.00 for Nave (£8.00 concessions for full-time students and on income related benefits) or Gallery (limited view) £8.00. Accompanied under 16s free. Tickets will be available from members of the Society, at the door, or on-line from www.wegottickets.com/BCS – who also have a direct link on the home page of this website.

Doors open from 6.45 p.m. Apart from seats marked for Patrons, there are no allocated seats.

A Saturday evening performance at St.Mary’s Church, Claremont Gardens, Whitley Bay, NE26 3SF, conducted by David Murray, starting at 7.30 p.m.

This concert will feature Fantasia on Christmas Carols and Serenade to Music, both by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with a selection of other Christmas music.

Come and enjoy an evening filled with a fine mixture of traditional and contemporary choral music, which will fill you with the spirit of Christmas.

Details and tickets available from their website www.stmarysmonkseaton.org.uk/concertseries.