Cleveland Philharmonic Choir

Rutter: Magnificat
Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music
Mozart: Requiem

Rowan Pierce, Clare Tunney (sopranos), Anna Stéphany, Anna Huntley (mezzo-sopranos), Christopher Griksaitis, Tom Smith, James Slimings (tenors), Dominic Barberi (baritone).
The Forsyth Festival Orchestra – Cleveland Philharmonic Choir with former members of John Forsyth’s previous choirs.
Conductor: John Forsyth MBE.

A tremendous send-off to honour and thank an inspiring conductor!

Professional soloists, all nurtured by John when he directed Tees Valley Youth Choir, are returning ‘home’ from many parts of Europe to perform in this concert, joined by a Grand Chorus of present and past choirs trained by John.

The evening begins with the joyous Rutter Magnificat, followed by Serenade to Music, a much-loved piece with words by Shakespeare and featuring all the soloists. After the interval all the performers join together to perform the wonderful Mozart Requiem.

Throughout his career, John has, through skillful training and high expectations, combined with a sense of humour and care for his singers, achieved superb standards with each ensemble he has led. He established Tees Valley Youth Choir, which toured Europe and was runner-up in the 2006 BBC Choir of the Year.

He has initiated Locomotion, a Darlington-based boys’ choir and Vox, for young adults from Teesside, both of which continue to thrive. He founded North East Youth Chorale which was invited to record works with Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Ensemble, and also directs Durham University Choral Society.

Cleveland Philharmonic Choir has been fortunate to have John as Music Director since 1999. He retires after this concert, with our warmest thanks for a quarter of a century of wonderful, enriching music-making.