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Tuesday 24 June at 1.15pm St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London EC4Y 8AU

World premiere performance of ‘Metropolis’, six songs by British composer Bernard Hughes and lyricist Chinwe D John that capture the pulse of a modern metropolis. These songs, which explore aspects of urban life, romantic love, and resilience, bring the emotional essence of our shared experience into stark and beautiful view. Soprano Isabelle Haile and pianist Asako Ogawa infuse their sublime artistry through the songs, creating an unforgettable musical experience.

This free lunchtime concert also includes music by Francis Poulenc, chosen to complement the songs. Find out more here

Metropolis appears on the album ‘Songs for Our Times’, released to critical acclaim in 2023 on the Divine Art label. ‘Songs for Our Times’ features composers Bernard Hughes and Staurt MacRae, lyricist Chinwe D John, pianist Christopher Glynn, soprano Isabelle Haile and tenor Nick Pritchard. The project, from its conception by Chinwe D John to the enthusiastic participation of the artists, exemplified by the premiere organised by soprano Isabelle Haile and pianist Asako Ogawa, speaks to the spirit of collaboration and shared interest in engaging current and future listeners.

Composer Bernard Hughes says, ‘I hadn’t written any solo songs when the opportunity to work with Chinwe came up. It was really interesting to work with lyrics by someone from such a different background to me. She pointed me towards some music styles I wouldn’t have otherwise encountered, and these formed the inspiration for the piano parts of several of the songs. It was a very collaborative process…I liked working on the songs as a cycle: there is a definite thread running through them. It was a delight working with Isabelle Haile on the recording. She is an exceptional talent and I’m so pleased she is giving the live UK premiere of Metropolis.’

Praise for Songs for Our Times – Metropolis

‘As a poet writing texts for songs, John has a very clear, direct voice, with the ability to craft memorable, evocative phrases and use short bursts of lyricism. Rarely do her texts feel too wordy or too over-written, there is space for the music….. Haile sings with a lovely bright, focused soprano tone’ – Robert Hugill

‘Here is music to enjoy but to make you think as well!’ – British Music Society

‘This is a capable and sensitive player who is intelligently inside the music, and quite capable of drawing us into it.’ – Early Music Review on Asako Ogawa

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SING HER TUNE 6-7pm, Sunday 18th May 2025, St Mary’s Church, Guildford GU1 3UA

Corra Sound, conducted by Amy Bebbington

Corra Sound, an all-female choir and dedicated advocate for upper voice music, announces its May concert, Sing Her Tune – a unique opportunity to experience a stunning medley of dynamic compositions from some of today’s most talented choral composers.

Taking place on Sunday 18th May 2025 at St Mary’s Church, Guildford, this performance will proudly unveil the top three winning works from Corra Sound’s 2023 ‘Call for Scores’ competition. From a total of 90 submissions, these outstanding compositions were selected not only for their musical artistry but also for the powerful themes they portray. Composers were invited to write music based on themes of female power, strength, flowing energy, survival, and/or parental advocacy, and the winning pieces offer deeply creative responses to this remit.

The concert will feature the premiere of A Mother’s Farewell by British composer and jazz pianist Kate Hill. With text by Scarlett Palys, this work reflects upon the enduring power and vulnerability of maternal love, exploring a mother’s final question about the sufficiency and recognition of her love. The piece showcases jazz-inspired voicings and an emotive, rich yet accessible sound-world, led by an elegiac soprano line.

The audience will also hear The Land of no more Night, an evocative piece by Seattle-based composer and pianist Kari Kruver Medina. Setting text by Christina Rossetti, the work briefly opens with a ponderous tone filled with darkness and despair, before quickly shifting to joyous proclamations of creation singing its hymn anew with the promise of a new day.

Completing the trio of winning compositions are two humorous musical settings by American composer and organist Erik Meyer: Unfortunate Coincidence and Social Note. These works bring the dark, sarcastic wit of Dorothy Parker to life, demonstrating her penchant for social protest against patriarchal convention through acerbic derision.

In addition to these exciting premieres, the programme will include equally illuminating and uplifting repertoire by both new and established composers. Audiences can look forward to hearing Eriks Esenvalds’ beautifully evocative Only in Sleep, Elaine Hagenberg’s rousing Measure me sky! and magnificent Shadow River, Don MacDonald’s ethereal Moonset and optimistically powerful She is the river, and Alexandra Olsavsky’s What happens when a woman?.

The concert will also feature two pieces that were winners in Corra Sound’s workshops last year: Hope is the thing by local composer Barbara Cobham, a heartfelt tribute to her niece who sadly passed away, and Air, Heart by Amanda Dean, scored for voices and boomwhackers, celebrating the tenacity and adventurous spirit of Amelia Earhart.

Corra Sound invites you to join them for this dynamically diverse programme celebrating new and established composers, thought-provoking and remarkable repertoire, and challenging yet accessible music for upper voices.

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Corra Sound is an outstanding ensemble, brilliantly led, and their programming is inspiring and imaginative. They sing with commitment and artistry, with clarity and colour, and are a joy to listen to.

Neil Ferris (Director, BBC Symphony Chorus, Sonoro)

Corra Sound is a remarkable group of singers with a love for performing, discovering new repertoire and celebrating the works of talented and often little known female composers.

Comprising a blend of professionally trained and high level amateur voices, the members of Corra Sound each have their own story to tell, but share a passion for music written by and for women, exploring the reach and versatility of the female voice.

Corra Sound has a unique identity which encompasses a broad range of vocal styles, bringing a deeply-rooted sense of heart, connectivity and passion to their performances. Corra’s mission is to bring works by (predominantly) female composers out of the shadows and into the spotlight, and the choir is gaining a reputation for high quality performance across a wide range of repertoire.

It is incredibly refreshing to be part of a group where musical excellence and well-being are held in equally high regard. This is a group of women who bring everything to the table and Corra Sound’s resulting performances are imbued with life-affirming and infectious emotion, passion and joy.

Katherine Bond-Smith (Corra Sound member)

Corra Sound was founded and is directed by Dr. Amy Bebbington, a passionate advocate for choral singing and conductor training, known for championing marginalised musicians through choral programming, Discovery Days and mentoring, and sought after for her engaging teaching style and wealth of pedagogical experience.

The choir is based in the south-east of England.

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The Central Band of the Royal Air Force will premiere WINGS OF FREEDOM, a brand-new commissioned piece by award-winning British composer Thomas Hewitt Jones, at concerts in London and Cambridge.

Wings of Freedom receives its premiere in London on 29th September and in Cambridge on 1st October 2023.

A four-movement work for symphonic wind band, Wings of Freedom is inspired by the core values of the Royal Air Force – the beliefs and principles that define and unify the Service. Each movement takes its title and theme from these core values: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence

Composer Thomas Hewitt Jones says, ‘I was so delighted when the opportunity arose to work alongside the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, creating a new large-scale new work to premiere in concert in London this September. I was invited to RAF Northolt to hear a rehearsal, and I was immediately struck by both the impeccable musicianship of the players and their infectious team spirit. Heard at a huge number of high-profile royal and national events each year, the RAF Music Services have quite an amazing pedigree.

The four movements of the piece are directly titled by each of the RAF’s core values. The first movement, ‘Respect’, begins with an epic fanfare which aims to evoke the sheer gravitas and responsibility of the RAF’s role as air defence of the United Kingdom. The second movement, ‘Integrity’, plays with the idea that in order to keep integrity, difficulties (depicted by atonal interjections) must be withstood, and the peaceful long melodic lines will overcome adversity (I was thinking here of the RAF’s Latin motto ‘Per ardua ad astra’ – “through adversity to the stars”. Movement 3, ‘Service’, conveys the idea of fortitude: serving the common good with steadfast determination, intense concentration and unwavering intention. The final movement, ‘Excellence’, celebrates the sheer brilliance and positive contribution of the RAF to the UK’s history. Also, the idea that joy, humanity and world peace can be sought as a key aim of the role of the force – and a small measure of pride in the UK, too!’

The Central Band of the RAF is delighted to have the opportunity to perform this new commission by Thomas Hewitt Jones and to programme it alongside other modern works, as a world premiere. The concerts in London and Cambridge will also raise funds for the Royal Air Force Music Services Association, with whom the Central Band of the RAF has close links, and which provides support to RAF Music Services.

The Central Band of the RAF will be performing at two venues that are new to them, with the aim of inspiring and garnering new audiences. Holy Trinity Sloane Square is a fantastic concert space and allows for a unique collaboration with the Choir of Holy Trinity Sloane Square. West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, is an equally brilliant, but very different venue and the Band looks forward to performing their programmes in two such contrasting and iconic spaces.

Alongside the new commission from Thomas Hewitt Jones, the London concert opens with ‘In Our Service’, composed by Hewitt Jones in honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Both concert programmes include ‘Shimmering Sunshine’ by Kevin Day, ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ by John Williams, ‘Puszta’ by Jan Van der Roost and ‘Tight Squeeze’ by Alex Shapiro. The Cambridge concert also features ‘Fate of the Gods’ by Steven Reineke.

Conductors:

Director of Music, Headquarters Music Services: Squadron Leader Chris I’Anson BMus Hons LRSM LTCL LLCM RAF (conducting Wings of Freedom)

Director of Music, Central Band of the Royal Air Force: Flight Lieutenant Michael Parsons BA Hons LRSM LLCM, RAF

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To see the band in performance, watch this video of ‘Lights on in Space’ by Andrew Pearce: