Ely Consort can trace its history back to the late 1980s, when the need for a chamber-
\nsize choir in Ely was recognised by Aidan Fairlie, then a lay clerk at Ely Cathedral and
\ndirector of the Ely Choral Society.<\/p>\n
Aidan formed St Mary\u2019s Chamber Choir (SMCC) in 1987, which gave a number of
\nwell-received concerts during the late eighties and early nineties \u2013 the St Mary\u2019s
\nname coming from Ely\u2019s parish church, where the choir often performed. A very few
\ncurrent singers \u2013 including the present Chairman, John Simmons, date their
\ninvolvement back to this time!<\/p>\n
Following Aidan\u2019s departure from Ely, SMCC was directed by a series of highly-
\nregarded local musicians, including Graham Griggs (King\u2019s School Ely) and New
\nZealander, Peter de Blois, during his time as tenor lay clerk at Ely.
\nIn 1994, it was decided to formally wind up the old choir and re-launch under a new
\nname. The name \u2018Ely Consort\u2019 was the idea of John Simmons and the director
\ndesignate, David Price.<\/p>\n
David was at the time Assistant Organist of Ely Cathedral. The choir\u2019s debut under
\nDavid\u2019s direction took place on Friday 16th December 1994, in the Cathedral\u2019s
\npresbytery. The programme included Vivaldi\u2019s Gloria, Vaughan Williams\u2019 Fantasia
\non Christmas Carols and works by Tavener and Arthur Wills. The choir numbered
\ntwenty-seven for the performance.<\/p>\n
A number of highly successful concerts followed over the next few years, until
\nDavid\u2019s departure for Portsmouth Cathedral upon his appointment there to the post
\nof Organist and Master of the Choristers, a post he still holds. David\u2019s successors in
\nthe post of Assistant Organist at Ely directed our choir in a number of well-received
\nconcerts until 2002 – and the appointment of Matthew Rudd.<\/p>\n
At the time Matthew was a music teacher at Perse Girls\u2019 School in Cambridge.
\nMatthew sang with the noted Cambridge Chorale and played trumpet in various local
\norchestras. Matthew has since become Head of Music at what is now the Stephen
\nPerse Foundation and he has staged an ambitious programme of major concerts and
\nevents there \u2013 see Matthew\u2019s separate biographical note.<\/p>\n
Our first concert under Matthew\u2019s direction took place in St Peter\u2019s Church, Ely, on
\nSaturday 14th December 2002. It included Charpentier\u2019s Messe de Minuit as its
\nmajor work. Rehearsing regularly under Matthew on Thursdays at the King\u2019s
\nSchool\u2019s Recital Hall, the choir has since produced a string of accomplished
\nperformances ranging widely in style from Bach to Broadway! We have been pleased
\nto work with a number of talented local musicians as soloists, although sometimes
\nsolo parts are taken by members of the choir.<\/p>\n
Regular venues beside Ely Cathedral have included Ely Methodist Church, parish
\nchurches at Sutton, Burwell, Chippenham, Cottenham and Soham and ventures
\nfurther afield to Chatteris, and Lavenham in Suffolk.<\/p>\n
Amongst our recent highlights have been collaborations with Steve Bingham and his
\nCon Brio Chamber Orchestra in performances of selections from Handel\u2019s Messiah.
\nWe have been pleased to commission works by Will Todd and the Canadian
\ncomposer Sarah Quartel.<\/p>\n
The choir endeavours to go on tour every other year and visits have been made over
\nthe years to Poland twice (Krakow and Gdansk), the Rhineland, the Loire Valley and
\nBelgium. This year the choir is about to undertake a short tour to Tuscany, first
\nplanned for 2020 prior to the COVID-enforced break in our programme.<\/p>\n
The choir has recently achieved charitable status and seeks to work to develop
\nunderstanding, appreciation and participation in choral music in Ely and district.
\nAs we celebrate 20 years under Matthew\u2019s direction at the end of 2022, we see the
\nchoir in a rebuilding phase following the pandemic. We are busy constructing a new
\nand exciting programme for the 2022-3 season and beyond \u2013 if you have a suitable
\nvenue capable of housing a choir of 35-40 plus instrumentalists and would like us to
\nvisit then please contact us via the website!<\/p>\n
John Simmons, Chair of Trustees (2022)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ely Consort can trace its history back to the late 1980s, when the need for a chamber- size choir in Ely was recognised by Aidan Fairlie, then a lay clerk at Ely Cathedral and director of the Ely Choral Society. … Continue reading