Tali and Kevin Jones share their experiences of TPC

Kevin and Tali at Tali’s graduation, Southampton 2023

Tali Jones became a TPC Choral Scholar in September 2024. But this was not her first experience of TPC.

“My introduction to Thames Philharmonic Choir was in the year 2013 when I attended a concert in St Paul’s Church Wimbledon Parkside where the choir sang Cantus de Stellis written by my dad, Kevin Jones. 11-year-old me was in awe of the rich sound of the choir - little did I know that I would be joining them as a choral scholar in my twenties!”

Kevin was first commissioned to write a new work to celebrate the launch of the re-branded Thames Philharmonic Choir, The Song of the River, with the support of a grant from the London Arts Board. He remembers drawing on his enthusiasm for links between science and music, basing the melodies on changing flow-rate data for the River Thames, with harmonic progressions derived from the river’s directional meanderings, setting texts relating to the Thames and to Biblical rivers. “At the start, matching sharp twists upstream, the music is fairly jarring and atonal, but as the river straightens and broadens downstream gentler harmonic progressions emerge ending with a minimalist drift into the ocean of eternity”, he says.

TPC went on to perform other works by Kevin, notably the aforementioned Cantus de Stellis, a setting of the Sanctus (based on star constellation patterns) that was programmed on a number of occasions alongside Karl Jenkins’ Armed Man. Wolfgang Mettler, visiting conductor from TPC’s partner choir in Konstanz, heard the work in rehearsal and went on to perform it in Germany.

Other of Kevin’s works performed by TPC include Send thy peace, O Lord originally written for the choir at St Paul’s Wimbledon Park to commemorate the anniversary of the end of WW2, and a setting of the Te Deum.

So how is Tali finding the TPC experience? “It’s been a privilege being a choral scholar for such a warm and welcoming choir. Every Tuesday the atmosphere is very positive and friendly. I was a little apprehensive at first; I wasn’t sure what to expect as it was my first time being a choral scholar for a choral society. However, all the members were extremely welcoming, particularly the other women in the alto section, so I very quickly felt at ease.

“A highlight of my experience so far was leading the warm-up exercises and rehearsing a section of the Mozart Requiem. This is an opportunity that all the choral scholars get, to gain some experience leading and conducting a choir. It was an extremely daunting task for me as I had never done anything like it before. Whilst I may have been a little tentative, I was very grateful for the opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone, and I felt privileged to be able to try conducting in front of such a supportive group of people.

“I’ve also really appreciated the opportunity to sing recitals with my fellow choral scholars. Once a term we put on a recital where each of us sings a short set of songs followed by an ensemble section where we sing some chamber vocal repertoire.”

Apart from composing for the choir, Kevin has helped out now and then as stand-in accompanist and, on one occasion, raced in on the day of the Kingston concert when John Bate was ill. The regular accompanist stepped up as conductor and Kevin took over at the piano!

“It has been a delight to see and hear the choir grow and thrive under its inspirational young conductor Harry, especially in this last year, proud that my daughter Tali is able to contribute as a TPC Choral Scholar. Harry’s adventurous programming is inspirational.”

Tali was thrilled to make her Cadogan Hall debut as a soloist in Mozart’s Regina Caelis during our spring term concert, in which we also performed Dixit Dominus by Marianna Martines and Mozart’s Requiem. 

For Kevin, the Dixit Dominus was an unexpected revelation. Following the concert he located and played one of Martines’ keyboard works as an organ voluntary at St Paul’s. A few days later he and his wife travelled to Vienna to visit their son who is studying at Vienna University. “We made a musical pilgrimage to the former home of Marianna Martines in Michaelerplatz, a place where she hosted and encouraged the young Haydn and Mozart.”

Reflecting on the year so far, Tali says: “It’s been an exciting journey and there’s still more to come. Do come and join us for our come and sing Haydn’s Creation on Saturday 10 May!”