NATIONALLY renowned Redditch Choral Society has skipped two generations and appointed the extraordinarily talented Emily Tyrrell as their new director of music.
The former Bridley Moor High School student, herself now a professional musician, had studied under the choir’s founder Alma Bright Clarke, and now takes on the role as the successor to her mentor.
However she is no stranger to leading the choir having stepped to the front, baton in hand, on several occasions before.
“Ten years ago I remember Alma fell and broke her hip and as a result I conducted the choir’s performance of Handel’s Messiah – I was 22 when I did that,” said Emily.
“Alma had given me so much experience and it was the first concert I conducted all the way through.”
Redditch Choral Society is renowed throughout the UK for the quality of its performances and already top soloists have pledged their continuing support to both the choir and Emily.
“Both Katy Leaver (soprano) and Brett Elesmore (tenor) have been very supportive and I was really pleased when Peter Bridle, who conducts the orchestra we sing with offered his help. At the end of our Christmas concert he said he thought I should take the job, which was nice as he is not only a great conductor himself but violinist too,” said Emily.
No major changes to programming are planned by the peripatetic music teacher, and the choir will be sticking with its core repertoire although Emily does plan to perhaps introduce more contemporary music, for example by Welsh maestro Karl Jenkins.
“We’ll be sticking to the works we have done for so many years but I think it would also be nice to bring in some more modern work too,” she said.
Redditch Choral Society meets at Crabbs Cross Methodist Church every Wednesday from 7.45pm to 9.30pm and new members are always welcome to come along and join them.
Their next concert is on Saturday, June 23 at St Stephen’s Church in Redditch town centre when they will perform Joseph Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ as well as Handel’s ‘Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day’.
As usual the choir will be joined by professional soloists and a professional orchestra.
