A former Norwich Cathedral choral scholar is returning to sing in the cathedral this weekend. Alex Bower-Brown, 24, said that the camaraderie at Norwich was very special, and the scholarship provided a “brilliant platform for his singing career".
He is now on a year’s scholarship with Thames Philharmonic Choir from SW London, which is singing the cathedral’s choral services from Friday to Sunday evening while the home choir has a holiday break.
TPC is directed by one of Britain’s foremost young conductors, Harry Bradford, 26. Bradford was a choral scholar at the Chapel Royal (the ‘monarch’s choir’) and BBC male chorister of the year at the age of 13, and later a King’s College scholar. He recently came second in a prestigious Eric Ericson award for young conductors, and was the youngest finalist in the International Competition
for Young Conductors in Paris, 2019. James Orford, the Choir’s accompanist, a distinguished pianist and organist, and currently Head of Organ at Eton College, will be playing the organ.
Take any one of the weekend’s services for an exhilarating choral experience, or go to all of them for a wonderful journey through the Anglican tradition from its beginnings with plainsong polyphony (“beautiful and transcendental”, says Harry), to the glorious melodic lines and harmonies of the Renaissanceand the stirring anthems of the 19thand early 20thcenturies.
Above: Former Norwich Cathedral choral scholar Alex Bowen-Brown returns this weekend to sing in the choral services. His hair is rather longer now!
Left: TPC Director Harry Bradford singing at the Queeen’s Platinum Jubilee thanksgiving service. He and the Choir are standing in for the home choir at Norwich Cathedral this weekend.
Here’s the line-up:
Friday evensong 5.30pm
William Byrd Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis
Richard Farrant Lord for thy tender mercy’s sake
Saturday Evensong 3.30pm
Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995)Magnificat and Nunc Dimittus in A
Charles Wood (1866–1926) O Thou the Central Orb
Sunday Communion 10.30am
Harold Darke Communion Service in F
Giovanni Croce (1557-1609)O Sacrum Convivium
Sunday Evensong 3.30pm
George Dyson (1883–1964) Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D
Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924) For Lo I Raise Up
Gilly Cameron-Cooper
29 July 2020