Cathedral calling
THE Guernsey Chamber Choir are getting ready for one of the biggest concerts of their existence – performing in the Carols by Candlelight service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Taking place next Tuesday evening, and hosted by the national charity Breast Cancer Care, this annual event is regularly attended by 2,500 guests. Celebrity readers at previous services have included Cherie Blair CBE QC, the actor Damian Lewis and comedian Catherine Tate.
Choir member Fran Le Tissier has supported previous Breast Cancer Care events and initiated the connection between the choir and the charity.
‘I had breast cancer and I modelled at the charity’s fashion event in 2009,’ explained Fran.
‘It was after this that they asked me to sit on their special events committee.
‘I’ve been going to their Carols by Candlelight events for five or six years and every fourth year it’s at St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s a very sought-after venue to hold your charity event at. But I believed the GCC were good enough to perform there, so I asked.’
The charity was happy for the choir to perform and there followed a robust ‘vetting’ process with the cathedral.
‘We had to send a CD of us performing, no retouching or refining. Then we got a recommendation from Mark Wildman, the former head of vocal studies at the Royal Academy of Music. And we were accepted.
‘Some members have sung at St Paul’s before but this will be the first time the choir has sung there. We’re all very excited.’
The choir will be singing Hodie Christus Natus Est by Dutch composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck.The piece is the 13th of 26 motets, which comprise the Cantiones Sacrae, and it is a five-part vocal arrangement.
