THE Chapter House Choir’s Carols by Candlelight concert celebrates its golden anniversary this Christmas.
On Friday, the choir will mark the milestone with a festive carol concert in York Minster featuring two children’s choirs, the York Railway Institute Band along with the Chapter House's handbell ringers.
The choir was formed in 1965 to raise funds for York Minster and its first concert was a Christmas concert on December 18, 1965.
This inaugural concert was conducted by founder director, world-renowned choral composer Andrew Carter.
Andrew still has a close association with the choir and has composed a new carol Benedicamus Domino to mark the choir’s 50th birthday.
Alongside this carol will be family favourites such as Good King Wenceslas and In the Bleak Midwinter, as well as more unusual Christmas pieces including Riu Riu Chiu, a rousing Spanish carol performed with percussion.
A stalwart of the Chapter House Choir’s Christmas concerts has always been the Chapter House Choir Handbell Ringers and they will perform several carol arrangements during the evening.
The Chapter House Choir will be joined this year for the first time by two children’s choirs – the Leeds Cathedral Choir School and York Junior Youth Choir, as well as the York Railway Institute Band and York Minster’s organist David Pipe.
Stephen Williams, musical director of The Chapter House Choir, said: “We are so proud to have reached our 50th birthday and to be marking it in such festive style.
"The combination of York Minster and uplifting Christmas music never fails to move me. This evening's entertainment promises to light up the performers and audience alike.”
The concert takes place in the Nave of York Minster. Tickets start at £10 and are available in advance from the York Minster Box Office on 01904 557208 or online at boxoffice.yorkminster.org
This concert is the middle of three carol concerts by The Chapter House Choir. They will also perform a traditional a cappella Carols by Candlelight concert in St Michael-le-Belfrey Church tomorrow (Thursday) and A Christmas Feast at the Milton Rooms, Malton, on Saturday.
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