Notice: U3A Combined Choir Sings The Holy Week Story

Published on: 20 Mar, 2018
Updated on: 20 Mar, 2018

This Easter, the choral meditation Olivet to Calvary will be sung by the 60-voice Guildford University of the Third Age (U3A) Combined Choirs.

Conducted by John Varney, the concert is at St Nicolas Church, Bury Street, Guildford on Tuesday, March 27 at 2pm and at Godalming United Church, Bridge Street, on Good Friday, March 30, at 7.30pm.

J. H. Maunder’s cantata describes the events leading up to Christ’s death, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem and desolation in Gethsemane, to his arrest, trial and eventual death on the cross. The soloists and choir express the changing moods, interspersed with hymns for choir and audience.

John Varney, former secretary of the National Organ Club, was choirmaster at St. Nicolas’ for 13 years until 2012. He has led the Guildford U3A choirs since September 2013, having conducted several Surrey church choirs.

“Inspired by Olivet to Calvary since first hearing it sung by Guildford Cathedral Choir under Barry Rose, I have conducted the work many times” says John. “The music is very well crafted with beautiful melodies and harmony, well suited for amateur singers, as the U3A choirs have discovered.”

Admission is free, with retiring collections for the choirs’ expenses and principally for the Bible Society’s Lent Appeal, helping orphaned and vulnerable children in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The U3A Monday Choir rehearses from 10am to noon at St Catherine’s Village Hall, and its companion choir rehearses on Tuesday afternoons at St Nicolas’ Church Hall. The choirs’ repertoire includes songs from musical theatre, folk and “retro” pop, opera and oratorio cantatas.

For further details, call 01483 560590.