Choir celebrates fabulous 40

The choir was formed in 1977 as Nepean Choral Society, to provide an opportunity for the major choral works to be performed for audiences in the Penrith and Lower Mountains.

One such work is Handel’s Messiah that has been performed almost annually, and in collaboration with Penrith Symphony Orchestra in more recent years.

The choir’s first conductor was well known ABC-FM broadcaster Graham Abbott, who was just 20 at the time. The choir has also performed under the baton of other leading and respected musicians including Michael Dyer and Gerald Williams.

Penrith City Choir’s current musical director, Lucy McAlary, has chosen a program of celebratory works to mark this milestone in the choir’s history. The concert will feature the ever popular Vivaldi Gloria and also include excerpts from John Rutter’s Mass of the Children and a contemporary work, Festival Gloria by Craig Courtney.

One of the choir’s core beliefs is that music education and singing should encompass all age groups. Towards that end a Children’s Choir and a Youth Choir have been established in recent years, and both groups will be featured in this concert. The choirs will be accompanied by an instrumental ensemble of strings, wind, percussion and keyboard.

Solo parts are to be sung by baritone, David Cervi, and young local counter tenor, Tom Masters, who is currently studying with Michelle Foreman at the Penrith Conservatorium of Music.

Cervi was a choral scholar at Clare College, Cambridge and is now a member of Sydney Chamber Choir and Cantillation. Cervi is principal trumpet in Penrith Symphony Orchestra, will also play trumpet in the Vivaldi.

The audience is invited to join the choir for afternoon tea and birthday celebrations in the church hall at the conclusion of the concert.

Bookings online at www.trybooking.com under the name of Penrith City Choir or at the door ($25, $20 concession, $5 child and $50 family of 4).