Alvin M. Keeling 
The Bendigo Chamber Choir warms up its vocal cords for its first standalone concert since 2019.
On Sunday August 28 at 3 p.m., the choir will descend on Christ Church Castlemaine to celebrate the live performance of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Bendigo Chamber Choir conductor Michael Bottomley said the concert was in honor of the composer’s 150th birthday and featured pieces such as mass in G minor and Five mystical songs.
“[Five mystical songs is] set to four poems by George Herbert and they’re for solo bass,” Bottomley said.
“The choir provides a backing chorus for at least three of the five mystical songs, and then the choir sings the fifth. It’s a very catchy ending for the set of songs.
“Rehearsals are going very well. It’s a demanding music, mass in G minor it’s for double choir, it’s two choirs singing at the same time, and then we have soloists as well.
“It’s a rather complex job and it takes a lot of rehearsal time, but it’s going really well.”
The choir is made up of 26 singers, accompanied by organist Daniel Clarke and pianist John Tungyep. Their last performance was at the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival earlier this year.
“This is our first standalone concert as a choir since Christmas 2019,” Bottomley said.
“Everyone is very enthusiastic, there has been apprehension… but everyone still has a strong desire to make music, especially through singing.”
For tickets go to bit.ly/3ppYRUC.
