Dorchester Choral Society are saying goodbye to their musical director of the past 10 years: Colin Howard. His final concert as their conductor is a performance of J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor which takes place on Saturday (5th April) in St Mary’s Church, Dorchester and has already sold out. It is a fitting work for a farewell performance: written by Bach towards the end of his career and monumental in scale, it requires an accomplished choir able to sing in double formation. And Dorchester Choral Society are making sure that this is a performance to remember with five professional soloists and the Salisbury Baroque orchestra in support.
Colin comments, “I have had real pleasure in leading Dorchester Choral Society, not only in singing familiar works but introducing them also to the challenges of unusual repertoire and pieces by living composers. However, after 30 memorable performances and some 350 rehearsals with the choir I think it is time to hand over to another director. But I don’t intend fully to retire – musicians don’t! So I am not disappearing from music-making in Dorset.”
Jane Howard, the choir’s chair, says “How can I sum up Colin’s 10 years’ with us? Certainly, under Colin’s direction the choir has gone from strength to strength and has a loyal following for its concert programme in Dorchester. He has encouraged young singers through the choir’s scholarship programme and given opportunities to young, talented soloists at the start of their careers to help to promote choral singing to the next generation. Colin has also given enthusiastic support to the choir’s partnership with choirs in Lübbecke and Bayeux: Dorchester’s twinned towns. He will be greatly missed. But the choir has appointed a worthy successor in Duncan Emerson and we very much look forward to working with him.”
Duncan Emerson takes on the role of conductor with considerable experience as a performer, music teacher and conductor of choirs and music groups. He is probably best known in Dorset in his position as Director of Music at Bryanston school in Blandford Forum until 2018. He says, “I am greatly looking forward to an exciting and enjoyable relationship with Dorchester Choral Society.”
Duncan’s first concert with the choir will be at St Mary’s Church in Cerne Abbas on Saturday 28th June at 5.30pm with a “Celebration of English Anthems” in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare.
For details of forthcoming concerts go to www.dorchesterchoralsociety.org
Colin’s successor Duncan Emerson