A talented Alexandria teenager has joined Helensburgh’s Oratorio Choir for their winter concern.
Ben Miller, 18, is the latest young person to join Helensburgh Oratorio Choir by its Choral Bursary programme.
Ben is currently attending the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as a gap year student on a juniors piano programme.
The choir is performing Mozart’s Requiem and Bruckner’s Te Deum on Sunday November 17 and Ben says it will be a great experience for him.
“Being plunged into the challenging repertoire the choir sings is exciting”, he explained.
“I hope it will open a new musical window for me and broaden my skill set.
“I have applied for a place on the Batchelor of Music degree and hope to become a successful professional musician”.
Alicia Tindal, Chair of the Helensburgh Oratorio Choir, is delighted that Ben, a former pupil of hers, is doing so well.
She said: “Young Ben is already a fantastic pianist and joining the choir to sing such famous pieces as Mozart’s Requiem will certainly help his confidence.
“Our scholarship programme is always looking to help young people, and the choir’s combination of knowledge and experience is a fantastic resource for any aspiring musician”.
The choir’s winter concert will play on Sunday November 17 from 7:30-9:30pm in Helensburgh Parish Church.
They will perform Mozart’s requiem where many of his movements can be found on movie soundtracks including the Lachrymosa which was completed after Mozart’s death at the age of 36.
Bruckner’s Te Deum will also be played by the choir for the first time and lasts for 25 minutes. Bruckner is well-renowned as a symphonic composer and being a part of the Austro-German Romantic style.
He composed 9 huge symphonies and was one of Mahler’s greatest friends.
The choir’s rendition of Te Deum will be done to celebrate the composer’s 200th Birthday which was on the September 4.
Alicia, added: “We are excited about performing Requiem, as it is Mozart’s final masterpiece and loved by many. We will be accompanied by Derek Clark on the church organ and have some brilliant soloists.
“The Te Deum (meaning We Praise Thee, O God), is full of energy with the choir in unison to begin, followed by a powerful section with the organ, with soloists and then the choir in full harmony”.
The soloists within the choir are Soprano Monica Toll, Mezzo Sarah Shorter, Tenor David Walsh, and Tim Edmunson Bass
Tickets are £15 for adults, £7.50 for students and free for under 18’s and can be bought at HelensburghOratorio.co.uk, or https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DYHT or from choir members.