 |
AND CHOIRMASTERS |
| NEXT EVENT: 11 February 2012 |
ORGAN OPEN DAY starting at
9:30a.m. in the Ulster Hall, Bedford Street. |
Saturday 11th February 2012
ORGAN OPEN
DAY - ULSTER HALL
| 9:30 | Welcome followed by 2 short solos by Colm Carey, City Organist. |
| 9:45 | Noel Thompson talks to Colm about "what it all does" |
| 10:00 | Open Workshop for Junior & Intermediate players with Nigel McClintock |
| 10:45 | Performances by NIIOC entrants Richard Gowers & Donal McCann |
| 11:30 | Open Workshop for advanced players with Colm Carey |
| 12:15 | Performances by NIIOC entrants Ben Bloor, Ghislaine Reece-Trapp & Ben Comeau. This will include a new 5 minute commission from Philip Hammond to mark the 150th anniversary of the Hall. |
| 13:00 | Open Console for all ages |
| 14:30 | End |
There is also an Educational Workshop for Primary School children in the Group Space from 10:30 till 12:00, including a tour of the Hall, Organ pipe Artwork and building a model organ.
Saturday 10th March 2012
THE KINGDOM
OF MOURNE
An organ crawl
showcasing two instruments in Newcastle
The 2m/15 Wells Kennedy tracker in
the Presbyterian Church
The 2m/10 Jones tracker just across the road in the
fabulous acoustic of the Church of Our Lady
Then we have some lunch
somewhere between Newcastle & Dundrum
We'll call in to see the untouched
(but very octopod) Lewis 2m/9 in St Donard's Dundrum
The day will finish in
Down Cathedral with a detailed look at the 3m/32 Harrison.
Saturday 21st April 2012
GET THE MOST
FROM YOUR SINGERS - FISHERWICK
PRESBYTERIAN
In April this year, we are delighted to welcome to our USOC meeting, Russell Smythe, Professor of Vocal Studies at the Royal College of Music in London. Russell has just recently retired from professional singing after a highly successful career. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and the London Opera Centre. He has performed at the Hamburg Staatsoper, the Paris Opéra, the Vienna Volksoper and Staatsoper, as well as in most of the main houses in Europe. Guest appearances further afield have taken him to Japan and North America. In Britain, he has performed with The Royal Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North, Welsh National Opera and our own Castleward Opera. Russell Smythe has given many song recitals both on the concert platform and for the BBC with such accompanists as Geoffrey Parsons, Graham Johnson and Roger Vignoles.
In recent years, the teaching of singing has become his primary focus. He lectures and teaches at the Royal College of Music, London, and, in the last year, he has given masterclasses and workshops in Belfast, Denmark and Spain. Russell also teaches a number of the choral scholars at King’s College, Cambridge and other Oxbridge Colleges.
On Saturday 21 April, Russell will discuss with us ‘How to get the best out of your singers,’ with tips that apply equally to professional soloists and amateur choral singers and conductors. He will also be happy to answer questions that anyone may have in relation to voice production, solo and choral singing.
This is a marvellous opportunity to listen to and meet one of the leading experts in voice production and singing. Do plan to be present and bring along choir members and anyone else interested in improving their understanding of the human voice.
Friday 4th - Monday 7th May 2012
BANK
HOLIDAY TOUR TO FRANKFURT
Frankfurt is a modern and lively city - the business capital of Europe! Along with continental Europe's largest airport, it is famous for its magnificent skyline, a vast exhibition centre and as we shall discover, a thriving organ-playing scene with many magnificent organs, both historic and modern. Its most famous son is remembered in the Goethe-House Museum in the city centre.
SATURDAY - HISTORIC
DISTRICT OF HÖCHST
Recital in the Evangelische Stadtkirche, a recent
Baroque organ by Ahrend, followed by one of the oldest churches in Germany -
the Justinus’ Church dating from 830AD with a wonderful 1988 Kuhn organ,
then to St Josef’s before returning to Frankfurt, where at 6:00 p.m. we
will attend Vespers in the St Katharinen church which will feature a Bach
Cantata.
SUNDAY - WIESBADEN
AND FLOERSHEIM
Travel to Wiesbaden – for the 10:00 a.m. service at the
Marktkirche followed by a demonstration of the organ there - one of the largest
and most famous organs in Germany (Sauer/Oberlinger). If possible we will also
visit the Lutherkirche (2 organs - Walcker + Klais). From there to St Gallus
Floersheim (300 year old organ once played by Telemann) before returning to
Frankfurt for another visit or one of many evening recitals.
MONDAY - CENTRAL
FRANKFURT
There are a number of churches within easy walking distance of
each other in the city centre area. We plan to visit to Frankfurter Dom
(Klais), the Katharinen Kirche (Rieger) and an exciting modern instrument by
Karl Göckel in the Liebfrauenkirche.
Saturday 23rd June 2012
ANNUAL
MEMBERS' RECITAL
As yet we have no firm details of this event.
