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Wednesday 13 December 2023 at 8pm
Shoreditch Church
Victoria Park Singers conducted by Charles MacDougall
Dan Moriyama pianist
Daniel Watt djembe
Please ensure your phone and any other electronic devices are switched to silent. Enjoy the concert!
There will be a retiring collection in aid of the Irene Taylor Trust
Ogo ni fun oluwa Rosephanye Powell
Psallite Michael Praetorius
Now May We Singen Cecilia McDowall
Perfect Day Lou Reed
Performed by Jason Lord and Charlotte Rushworth
Lullaby Karl Jenkins
Performed by Helen Rixon and Milena Berges sopranos, Julie Le Bon, Joanna Norledge and Marie Williamson altos, Pierre O’Reilly tenor, Alex Stanbury and Lorenz Bauer basses, Marie Williamson violin
Bethlehem Down Peter Warlock
Sara Lee from the Irene Taylor Trust will say a few words about the work of the charity
Glow Eric Whitacre
Run Mary, Run Spiritual, arr. Brian Tate
Mary, Did You Know? Mark Lowry & Buddy Green, arr. Jack Shrader
Please join in with singing Deck the Hall
1. Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la la la!
‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la….
Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel, fa la la….
Troll the ancient Christmas carol, fa la la….!
2. See the flowing bowl before us, fa la la….
Strike the harp and join the chorus, fa la la….
Follow me in merry measure, fa la la….
While I sing of beauty’s treasure, fa la la….!
3. Fast away the old year passes, fa la la….
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, fa la la….
Laughing, quaffing, all together, fa la la….
Heedless of the wind and weather, fa la la….!
Victoria Park Singers
Victoria Park Singers is a 100-strong community choir founded by Hannah Brine in 2013. Charles MacDougall was appointed conductor in 2023. We are proud to have a no audition policy, yet are not afraid to tackle ambitious new choral works as well as music from the pop, gospel, folk and jazz genres. We have performed across London, including at the Union Chapel, Southbank Centre, St John at Hackney, Rich Mix and the the Museum of Childhood and since forming we have raised around £20,000 for charity. Ladies from our choir were lucky enough to perform as the opening act for the 2017 Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall with Gary Barlow & the cast of his musical The Girls, having performed the previous November at the Royal Variety Show. Choir members have also recently been spotted performing in the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall this summer (Prom 66: In the Name of the Earth) and on BT Sport, being ‘conducted’ by football legend Gary Lineker. In 2020 we graced the Barbican stage, together with the LSO orchestra and a massed choir to perform Andre Thomas’ Symphonic Gospel Spirit. Our spring term starts on Wednesday 17th January and new members are welcome.
Charles MacDougall
Charles MacDougall, known equally for his singing and his transformative work with choirs and singers, was appointed director of Victoria Park Singers in 2023.
A former member of internationally-acclaimed vocal ensemble VOCES8, he now sings for a number of other ensembles, including Gabrieli Consort and Players, London Voices (appearing on numerous film soundtracks) and London Early Opera (including as a soloist on their releases Handel at Vauxhall, Vol.1 & 2, Signum Classics), as well as undertaking solo engagements internationally.
An accomplished choral conductor and vocal coach, he is Chorus Director for Gabrieli ROAR, Vocal Ensembles Coach and Tutor in Vocal Studies at Junior Trinity (Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance) and directs 3 choirs in London. Recent directing highlights include conducting the world premieres of both Errollyn Wallen’s MAP: Songs For Children Everywhere for Britten-Pears Arts in Hull and Snape Maltings, and David Bruce’s Songs of Home for the 25th anniversary of The Voices Foundation at St John’s Smith Square. He is extremely active as a workshop leader, presenting sessions for the BBC Singers, UK Choir Festival, Association of British Choral Directors, LSO and Stay At Home Choir.
As an educator, he was part of the team that received the Music and Drama Education Award for Excellence in Primary/Early Years 2018 and he helped devise and deliver the daily Virtual Sing for children on lockdown in 2020. In 2021 he wrote the first volume of Inside Singing, a choral resource for primary school choir leaders, shortlisted for Outstanding Music Education Resource in the Music and Drama Education Awards 2023.
A fierce advocate for the importance of music and music education, he is the Choral Director of Voices Foundation, an Ambassador for Britten-Pears Arts, a Trustee of IntoOpera, and a Director and Trustee of the Choral Foundation, Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace.
Dan Moriyama pianist
Dan Moriyama is a pianist and multi-talented musician. An accomplished classical pianist, he specialises in playing with singers and choirs including London Youth Choirs where he is an arranger and resident pianist, Military Wives Choirs, and National Youth Choirs of Great Britain.
In the popular music world he’s played keyboards, Hammond organ, and sung backing vocals with various artists including Dr Hook, the late Donna Summer, Tennessee blues singer, Earl Thomas, and members of Madness, as well as leading his own band as writer and front man for 10 years. Dan also plays bass guitar; composes, arranges and produces music; and has performed on TV, in theatre, and with dancers including Strictly professionals.
Dan won a music scholarship to Wells Cathedral School aged 8, was a BBC Young Musician piano finalist at 15, and studied jazz and classical piano at the Guildhall School of Music, winning several awards.
Daniel Watt djembe
Daniel Watt is a freelance drummer and percussionist based in London, having studied orchestral percussion at the Royal Academy of Music, as well as jazz drums at the Guildhall School of Music. He has performed in the BBC Proms, played around Europe with his award-winning baroque ensemble, Apollo’s Cabinet, with whom he has just released a CD, and he also plays with blues legend, Dana Gillespie, with whom he was recently in the US for some gigs. He plays regularly around London with many other musicians at venues including the 606 Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott’s and the Bull’s Head. Daniel cycles everywhere in London, and loves to travel.
Acknowledgements
A huge thanks to all the singers involved in tonight’s concert for their hard work. An especially big thank you goes to the team of volunteers from the choir who have helped make this event possible.
Thanks to the staff at Shoreditch Church and our rehearsal venue, Lauriston School, and to you, our lovely audience, for supporting us.
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