Double the direction for Haddington choir
East Lothian’s Hadley Court Singers will be singing double forte in 2013 after appointing two musical directors.
David R Wilson and James Slimings, who are in their early twenties, are getting set to lead the choir at its various events this year.
James (pictured left) will take a permanent position as the singers’ musical director in September and David (pictured right) will make his mark on their spring concert in St Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington, on May 18.
David said: “With only one term in which to work with the choir, I don’t want to change things only for James then to want to do things differently the following term. My aim is to get the choir to rediscover and celebrate what they are already good at.”
With this in mind, he has outlined a programme for the spring concert called ‘Orchestra of the Voice’ with a mix of well-known orchestral classics adapted for the choir, anthems and excerpts from Les Miserables.
He added: “The human voice is an amazing instrument, capable of stirring emotions in both the audience and the singers themselves. This concert will be a chance to enjoy everything that singing has to offer.”
The choir will also encourage participation from young singers in East Lothian in what should prove to be an action-packed evening.
David has sung extensively throughout the country with a number of choirs including Tayside Opera and the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, and has even performed for the Belgian Royal Family. He is also an accomplished instrumentalist, playing not only the organ and piano but also cornet and percussion. He now teaches privately and is taught by singing legend Judith Howarth who has previously worked with Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Sir Simon Rattle.
James is currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and starts his M. Mus. in September 2013.
Despite his youth he is an experienced conductor, working with the Kilbarchan Singers in Glasgow, the National (GB) Youth Boys and Training Choir and the RSNO Chorus. He is also a tenor soloist, singing with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and other national choirs.
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Weather for Musselburgh
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
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