United in song.

One of Bath’s oldest choral groups – The Silver Ring Choir – has just come back from representing the city at the annual Festivale De Musique held in Bath’s twin city Aix en Provence in France.

Marian McNeir MBE, the Chairman of the choir, told Bath Newseum:

“The mixed voice choir gave  two concerts with very varied repertoires ranging from medieval Madrigals to the American Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs and Vaughan William’s Antiphon.

The choir with ages ranging from 20 to 90 is conducted by the charismatic and hugely talented Philip Draisey whose father John has done a beautiful arrangement of the spiritual “Go down Moses  ” which was a highlight of the concert on Saturday.

Marian said it had been been inspiring to sing with choirs from Perugia , Grenada and Aix itself.

“A non choral but nevertheless very entertaining group was the Alpine Horn Players from Tubingen in Germany  who drew fascinated crowds when they played in the medieval squares of Aix.”

Marian , as Chairman of the Bath – Aix Twinning Association would love to hear from Bath choirs who might like to take part in the Festival in Aix in 2020. She can be contacted through the Mayors Office – Mayor’s_Parlour@bathnes.gov.uk

The SRC will sing this Friday – on the Opening Night of the Bath Festival at 6.50 pm at St Michaels Church – and their next concert will be in Winsley Parish Church with the Winsley Primary School choir in aid of Dorothy House at 7pm on 15 June.