CHESTER CHOIR SET TO STAGE UK PREMIERE OF NEW CHORAL WORK AT SPECIAL CONCERT

One of Chester's top choirs will make history when a brand new choral work has its UK premiere as part of a special summer concert.

Chester Bach Singers will perform 'Where Flies the Lark' by Canadian composer and jazz pianist Benjamin Sigerson at the concert which is set to take place at the Wesley Church Centre in St. John Street Chester on Saturday 14th June at 3pm. The performance will be the first time the piece has been sung in public in the UK.

Entitled "Taking Flight", the concert will showcase music on the themes of flight, air and nature. It will also be the first public performance for the choir under the baton of its new musical director Emma Baker who took up her role in April following the retirement in March of long serving musical director Martin Bussey after more than 38 years with the choir.

A composer and jazz pianist from Vancouver, B.C., Benjamin Sigerson has won awards for his compositions in both classical and jazz idioms, and has been featured on several albums and concerts. His pieces have been performed internationally in concert stages, jazz clubs, and recording studios across Canada. As a songwriter, Benjamin has written over 150 pieces. His music has been recorded on several albums, including a recent recording funded by the Canada Council for the Arts for a five-keyboard ensemble.

In addition to "Where Flies the Lark", the concert will feature a mixture of well known choral pieces including Parry's "Blest Pair of Sirens" and "My Soul There is a Country" paired with works such as "The Cloths of Heaven" by Rebecca Dale, one of the rising stars of composition here in the UK. 

Joining Chester Bach Singers will be Liverpool based soprano Demi-Leigh Billington. Demi joined Liverpool Cathedral Choir aged ten and sang countless solos over the years. At aged 18 she performed in the Snowman as the soloist during their national tour which Liverpool Cathedral hosted. Demi now sings regularly at Liverpool Cathedral and is in demand as a consort singer. She is part of many groups such as the Pilgrim Singers, Northern Concordia Singers and Hope Street Consort. Demi has frequently sung on tour, performing in such places as Wells Cathedral, Bath Abbey, and Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon.

Speaking about the concert, Helen Crich, Chair of Chester Bach Singers said:

"We have hit the ground running with our new Music Director, Emma Baker and we are delighted to be performing the UK premiere of Bejamin Sigerson's "Where Flies the Lark", just one of several new songs that our audience will undoubtedly fall in love with, as we have. These, combined with works from more established composers, will make for an exciting afternoon at the Wesley Church Centre in Chester."

Full details of Chester Bach Singers upcoming concert at the Wesley Church Centre on 14^th June can be found at: 

www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.