Published in the Leicester Mercury, 27th November 2007, Neil Crutchley

‘This recital of Sacred British Music was the first concert given by the Leicester University Chamber Choir, and it proved to be an impressive debut.

Conducted by Mark Batten, the talented organist of St. James the Greater, the choir consists of around thirty young singers who produced an appealingly smooth and bright sound. Mark knew what he wanted from the music and how to achieve it. His conducting was direct and unmannered with lots of eye contact and plenty of cues.

The highlight was an accomplished and compelling account of Britten’s masterly cantata, Rejoice in the Lamb. This piece presents a real challenge to any choir, but these singers had been meticulously rehearsed and coped admirably with the countless changes of tempo and dynamics. It was a vibrant and searching reading with able soloists and superb organ accompaniment from Nicholas Johnson.

The concert opened with SS Wesley’s festal anthem, Blessed Be the God and Father, which was given a strong, well-paced performance and Herbert Brewer’s extrovert setting of the Magnificat was stylishly done.

John Rutter’s organ duet, Variations on an Easter Theme played by Mark Batten and Nicholas Johnson, was enjoyably eclectic with a particularly attractive blues-inspired central section, and soprano Kat Hinkel excelled in a short piece by Barry Ferguson based on inspirational words by Mother Teresa and called It was in that train.’

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Come and Join us for the Traditional University Carol Service led the Chaplaincy and the newly named Leicester University Chamber Choir. 

Tuesday 11th December 2007, beginning at 5.30pm in Queens Hall, Percy Gee building

Enjoy singing your favorite carols including O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and O come, all ye faithful! Then relax with mince pies, mulled wine and fruit punch to end the festivities.

Seasonal Greetings, see you all there!  Bring all your friends, why don’t you send them a link or maybe our flyer below.

Christmas Carol Service  

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Our first official concert in this incarnation is done!

We are away, if you didn’t catch the programme, it is given below. Thank you to everybody for coming I hope you had a enjoyable evening.

Sacred Music Programme

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Our concert entitled ‘Sacred British Music across the centuries’ was on Saturday 24th November at 7.30pm at Church of St James the Greater, London Road, Leicester. Including Britten’s Rejoice in Lamb.

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