Come and Sing 'Credo' from Bach's B minor Mass

On Saturday 1st April around 100 keen singers came from as far away as Kings Lynn, Wisbech, and even Sheffield to the Baptist Church, Histon, for a day dedicated to working on the Credo section from Bach's B Minor Mass with Andrew Parnell.

Andrew was Music Master and Choir Director at St. Albans School and Conductor of the St. Albans Symphony Orchestra and founded the St. Albans Abbey Girls' Choir. He moved to West Norfolk in order to develop his career as a freelance conductor, player and teacher, since when he has accompanied Norwich Cathedral Girls Choir on tour in Holland and has deputised as Assistant Organist at Southwell Minster and at the Cathedrals of Ely, Canterbury and Wakefield. He became Conductor of Ely Choral Society, of Wymondham Symphony Orchestra and is also the chief conductor of the Cambridgeshire Choral Society.

The day began at 10:00 am. We worked through till 12:45, with just the choir and accompanist Douglas Paine, when we broke for lunch. Around 50 people enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Boot for £5 a head, after which it was time to resume singing.

The Choir tackle the Credo [ click for full-size picture]

In the afternoon, the choir were joined by the Cambridge Orchestra and soloists : Kate Woolf (soprano), Abigail Boreham (alto) and Richard Hooper (Bass)

The orchestra was made possible thanks to a grant from "Awards for all", and added greatly to the excitement of the occasion for the singers taking part.