MUSIC NOTES – APRIL 2024
After the wonderful music during Holy Week and Easter the Choir returns on 21st April for what will be a very long term, Easter, itself, being very early this year. It will also be a busy one.
The first two weeks after Easter our services will be led by the St. Oswald’s Singers. This group, formed last year, has already made its mark and it is good to be able to have a group of singers who can hold the fort when the Choir is away.
We could do with a few more people and if you feel that you would enjoy singing the occasional service, please have a word with me or Margaret Smith, who conducts them. Everyone will be most welcome.
It will, as I said, be a busy term. There are a number of important services:
Thursday 9th May – Ascension. Choral Eucharist at 7.00pm.
Sunday 19th May - Pentecost.
Sunday 3rd June – Confirmation
Sunday 7th July – Opening service of the Festival to celebrate 150th anniversary of the restoration of the church
Sunday 4th August - St. Oswald’s Day
In addition, there are musical events outside the run of services.
Saturday 29th June – 10th Veronica Donkin Memorial Organ Recital
Given this year by Paul Parsons, Organist of Pontigny Abbey, Pontigny, France and ex Organ Scholar, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
Saturday 6th July – Opening Concert of the 150th anniversary concert given by our Chamber Ensemble ‘The Scholars & Gentlemen’
Music for a Summer Evening Series (part of the Festival)
Saturday 20th July - Colin Porter and Ignazio Lusarde Monteverdi
‘Organ and Flamenco Guitar.'
Saturday 3rd August – Haydn Jones – Piano (light classical and modern)
Saturday 17th August - Samantha Lewis – Mezzo-Soprano.
Saturday 31st August – The Scholars & Gentlemen ‘Madrigals and Elizabethan songs
The festival continues next term with
Saturday 5th October – Penybontfawr Male Voice Choir
Saturday 12th October – Closing Concert given by St. Oswald’s Choir.
There are details of all these concerts in last month’s magazine and look out for more next month.
Adopt a Chorister
This year a number of our choristers will be attending the Royal School of Church Music Summer School in Bath. The Summer School has now become a tradition with the choristers. More importantly it is one of the ways in which we maintain the high standards of singing that grace our services week by week.
Because we always send a good number of choristers to the summer school, we have been given reduced price this year and the total cost per chorister is £555, one pound less that 2023.
The ‘Adopt a Chorister’ scheme is now open for this year. More information HERE
If you would like to sponsor a chorister, please send your donation to:-
Michael Donkin,
Director of Music, St. Oswald’s Church, Oswestry Cae Bach,
Llanfechain Powys SY22 6UT
or see me after any service in church
Any amount, however small, will be gratefully appreciated.
Mike Donkin
Director of Music