Members from two choir groups performed at one of America’s most iconic venues earlier this month.
Weston Choral and Worle Chorale were invited to perform in Mass In Blue: The Music Of Will Todd at the Lincoln Centre in New York on April 7.
Both choirs had to audition to take part in the international choral event, featuring 500 singers from across the globe.
The groups performed in the American premiere of Will Todd’s latest concert, Songs Of Peace, and spent almost two weeks in the city rehearsing and visiting the sights.
The show was organised by Distinguished Concerts International, a leading concert producer in New York.
Weston Choral member Maria Redman told the Mercury: “I had to keep mentally pinching myself to think we were onstage in a famous hall in New York city, singing with an amazing composer and musicians.
“At the end we received rapturous applause and a standing ovation, the whole experience lived up to and went beyond my expectation and I wouldn’t hesitate to do something similar again given the opportunity.
“The organisers were really brilliant and rounded things off with a reception banquet and gave everyone time to come down from the musical high.”
Musical director, Howard Sayer, added: “The singers were thrilled to represent our towns in what proved to be a spectacular concert, and have formed links with other choirs which may lead to future musical collaboration.
“The group was ready for a challenge which took us a little bit out of our comfort-zone, even though we have done a shorter jazz composition of his, and other non-jazz choral pieces of his in recent times.
“Will is a highly regarded, world-renowned composer so it was such a privilege to perform in front of him.”
In June, Weston Chorale and Worle School Youth Choir will perform Mass In Blue at Worle Community School, with the composer himself accompanying the music with internationally renowned mezzo-soprano, Martha McLorinan, of Weston, as the vocal soloist and saxophone soloist Tessa Ractliffe.
Tickets, priced £6-12, for the concert on June 8 at 7.30pm are available at www.westonchoralsociety.org.uk
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