Monday 17 December 2012

Kinder with the Stars!

The Concert Choir had a great time this evening singing at the Bridgewater Hall in Caroling with Russell Grant. More used to ordinary acoustic performances, this was a new experience for most of the choristers who had to find their notes and harmonies amid the huge noise and sound of a symphony orchestra and soloists, magnified even more through microphones. The choir was involved in nearly all the numbers and, as usual, they had prepared their songs from memory. However, they had to learn them without knowledge of the orchestral interludes between verses, and new moves had to be learned “on the hoof” during a three hour rehearsal with a new conductor and all the other musicians in the afternoon. After a short break it was back on stage for the concert with an audience of 2000!! It certainly was a test of their professionalism and concentration.  The presenter of the show, popular celebrity, Russell Grant was most generous in his praise for the choir.

The choristers were also very excited to be performing with special guest artist Russell Watson. Wonderful favourites such as Adeste Fideles, Panis Angelicus, O Holy Night and Pie Jesu were in the programme with Kinder providing the backing vocals.  Some of the young ladies in the choir thought that Christmas had come early especially when they met Russell in the interval!  Russell was very gracious in his encouragement of our young singers.  The whole evening was a wonderful experience for the choristers and a great lesson in the value of preparation!

BACKGROUND

The Kinder Children’s Choirs of the High Peak have been one of the major success stories of the cultural life of the High Peak since their formation in 1991 by their inspirational Founder Director Joyce Ellis. They are firmly established as one of the UK’s foremost children’s choral organisations.

Located in the beautiful hills of rural Derbyshire, England, the choirs quickly gained a national and international profile with successes in major competitions and festivals, including twice winners of the highly prestigious Llangollen International Eisteddfod, major concert engagements, and appearances on TV and radio and in European tours. They perform regularly in a wide variety of venues including cathedrals and national concert halls, as well as all over Derbyshire.

The choirs are named after Kinder Scout, a local topographical landmark, and involve more than 100 choristers between the ages of 7 and 18 in a group of five choirs. They are administered by a Registered Charitable Trust.

Joyce Ellis was inspired to form the choirs, after a career as an opera and concert singer, with the specific aim of providing vocal and choral training for children with the excitement of high-level performance with professional attitudes and approach. Children are not precluded for reasons of cost and there are no voice tests or auditions in gaining entry to the Choirs’ training programme.

Explore our website to read more about the Choirs’ achievements, activities and the opportunities they offer.

THE KINDER CHORISTER

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