The University of Essex Choir returns to Chelmsford Cathedral for their first concert of the season.

The concert, at 7pm on Saturday 31 January, sees the Choir performing Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, regarded by many as one of the greatest works of the baroque choral repertoire and written for orchestra, six soloists and two choirs. Soloists for this performance will be Julia Doyle and Kirsty Hopkins (soprano), Nathan Vale and Mark Wilde (tenor) and Robert Rice and James Oldfield (bass). The Choir will be joined by the London Handel Orchestra playing period instruments.

Founded in 1977, the University of Essex Choir performs two concerts per season and numbers around 150 singers. Its membership is drawn from University staff and students, as well as the local community. As the University is an international community, with a relatively high proportion of international students, many in the choir are from overseas.

Conducted by Richard Cooke, who also conducts the Royal Choral Society and Canterbury Choral Society, the University of Essex Choir has gained an enviable reputation and forms an important part of the cultural scene for the region and beyond. As well as singing at Chelmsford, the Choir has performed in Norwich, Bury St Edmunds, Canterbury and Lille. Most of its spring concerts take place at Snape Maltings.

For further information and to book tickets (priced from £13 to £20) please contact James Dace & Son Ltd, 22 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford on telephone: 01245 262841 or 01245 352133. A selection of tickets will also be available from the University’s Arts Office on telephone: 01206 873261 or e-mail: arts@essex.ac.uk

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Notes to editors:
More information about the University of Essex Choir is available at: www.essex.ac.uk/Arts/choir/

The first University of Essex Choir concert of the season takes place at 7pm on Saturday 31 January, in Chelmsford Cathedral. For further information and to book tickets (priced from £13 to £20) please contact James Dace & Son Ltd, 22 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford on telephone: 01245 262841 or 01245 352133. A selection of tickets will also be available from the University’s Arts Office on telephone: 01206 873261 or e-mail: arts@essex.ac.uk