The Leicester Bach Choir: “A friendly bunch who take the music but not ourselves seriously.”
We are a registered charity rebuilding from COVID’s devastating impact on choirs. Mistaken belief that singing spread covid resulted in a ban on choirs meeting to sing, which meant we had no income for 2 years. Since then, LBC has rebuilt singer numbers steadily: we expect to return to our original 65 in the coming year. Audiences are also returning, although we are working to introduce new listeners to our concerts too.
The music we sing is sometimes traditional, sometimes new. Last year we acknowledged the significance of Vaughan Williams by performing key works in an anniversary concert, & two textured concerts that wove contemporary choral works together with solo instrumental pieces. The choir performed familiar modern composers like Ola Gjeilo & John Tavener, & introduced British composer Cecilia McDowall’s Ave Maris Stella. She told us that her hymn to peace was written in the aftermath of 9/11, which made it particularly apposite for a November concert – the month of remembrance. Different concerts featured professional soloists on violin, viola & cello, who gave soaring performances of Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending & Bach’s cello suite. We also introduced Lithuanian Ērik Ešenvalds’ astonishing In paradisum for choir, viola & cello. This featured the choir as beating angels’ wings, while exquisite descants from the strings eventually lifted us to a sense of eternal rest.
Our last concert received a standing ovation from some audience members, when both the music & our innovative performance practice were warmly received.
“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your concert on Saturday evening – it was such a moving experience & I felt it was a privilege to be there. The whole programme was put together with such care. How lovely to hear that cello accompanying many of the pieces, & what an inspired idea to ask the audience not to applaud between items. It meant we could all take a deep breath & really appreciate each item.”
LBC also embarked on a major programme of modernisation. Website & marketing materials were redesigned, ticketing was brought online, card reader payments were introduced, & we became an active presence on Facebook & Instagram which attracted new & noticeably younger audiences. LBC members also worked hard to broaden the audience while retaining traditional attenders. Hindu neighbours living near to our concert venue, St James the Greater church, responded to an invitation to hear Holst’s songs from the Rig Veda, one of their four great holy books. Cello teachers & students came to the summer concert, when we were fortunate to host a world-class cellist Matthew Sharp who, while living in France, happily was working in the UK in July.
All this is only achieved by the actions of very many choir members, and often their families. But we are not out of the woods yet. LBC has come a long way towards recovering pandemic-hit singer & audience numbers, but subscriptions and ticket sales are not sufficient for choral music to survive. The choir faces significantly increased costs of hiring & heating a large Victorian church for rehearsals & performances. We carry out internal and external fund-raising activities, and are most grateful to the donors who make legacies and charities who provide grants. Last year these made it possible to bring international soloists to Leicester & Leicestershire, and to innovate while post-pandemic commercial concerts remain highly conservative.
The coming season starts with a performance of Handel’s Messiah on 9th December. Messiah is a glorious advent pleasure for most music-lovers, but an orchestra of 31 professional musicians & 4 highly skilled soloists is not cheap. Ticket prices have had to be increased so, for the first time, we are offering reduced rates for advance bookings. Nevertheless, LBC continues to offer free choir membership to young singers, & substantially reduced membership to young adults. Audience tickets are also free for accompanied U16s, & we have held the concessionary ticket price at £5 for 6th formers, students, people who are registered disabled & companions.
As we enter our 95th season, LBC continues to work with businesses & groups that are the framework of the city. We support one of Leicester’s largest churches, St James the Greater, by rehearsing as well as performing there; & on principle employ local people as web administrator, designer, sign maker, printer, & photographer. For the foreseeable future, our concerts will continue to inspire the people & singers of Leicester & Leicestershire who find traditional & contemporary classical music a source of solace, stimulation, & human connection
Dr Jennifer Clegg
Chair Leicester Bach Choir