York songsters mark 50 years (From York Press)

York songsters mark 50 years

11:01am Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Nadia Jefferson-Brown, nadia.jefferson-brown@thepress.co.uk

SINGERS who have performed with one of York’s best-known chamber choirs are being urged to come together for a reunion to mark its 50th anniversary.

The Micklegate Singers is trying to reach as many former members as possible to invite them to a summer gala anniversary concert and lunch party, to round off the year’s celebrations.

Alison Kitchen, a soprano in the choir since 1980, is co-ordinating the anniversary celebrations and already has a lengthy list of names of people with links to the choir.

“Although the choir only numbers around 35 at any one time, we know that at least 390 people have sung with the choir over the last 50 years,” she said.

Anyone who used to sing with Micklegate Singers who has not had correspondence from it recently is being encouraged to contact Alison at choir.secretary@micklegatesingers.org.uk for details of the reunion.

One of the earliest photographs of the choir was believed to have been taken in 1964 by a Press photographer in the Guildhall.

Alison would like to hear from anyone who was singing or in the audience at this concert to gather memories from bygone days.

The 50th anniversary season’s next concert by the Singers, who continue to champion accessible contemporary music and lesser-known older works, is entitled Time Is Endless. It will be led by musical director Nick Carter at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 23 in the Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, and features a work specially written for the group by York composer James Else. Other works in the concert will be by Victoria, Howells, Miskinis and O’Regan. Tickets, available on the door, will be £10 (£8 concessions and £6 students).