Star trebles Tom Pickard and Monty Jones will join former principal English National Opera baritone Philip Summerscales, the Kelly & Co String Quartet, Kirk Braddan Choir and guests, conductor Graham Kirkland and organist John Riley for a delightful programme of Music in a Sacred Place on Monday 14 July at Kirk Braddan, starting at 7.30pm.
It’s a rare opportunity to hear Tom and Monty perform on-Island – and they will sing Cesar Franck’s Panis Angelicus together as part of the concert – as well as solos of their own.
Tom, from Port St Mary, is son of the late Alan Pickard who inspired countless numbers of children on the Island to become involved in music during his long career as an educator and conductor of choirs and orchestras. He won one of only six scholarships for choristers at King’s College, Cambridge in 2009. Recent notable performances have included for the British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street and singing the first verse solo of the carol Once in Royal David’s City at the start of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College - broadcast on television around the world on Christmas Eve. After his Isle of Man concert, Tom leaves with the choir for a three week tour of Australia before he takes up a place as a Music Scholar at Eton in September.
Monty has just completed his third year as a chorister at Westminster Abbey Choir School. His first year was documented in a BBC series of life at the Abbey. He became a member of the full choir in September 2013 and, in addition to daily services at the Abbey, has sung at a Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication to mark Battle of Britain Sunday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services broadcast by the BBC, the Commonwealth Day Observance and a Radio 3 live broadcast of Evensong. Future engagements include taking part in a candlelit vigil commemorating WW1 on 4th August, which will be broadcast live on BBC2, and a three week tour of the USA in October 2014.
Isle of Man scholar Michael Hoy will talk through the background of Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical songs before they are performed by Philip Summerscales – along with Kirk Braddan choir and guests and John Riley - organ, conducted by Graham Kirkland.
The choir will also perform Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine, the hymn Let all the world in every corner sing (tune - Basil Harwood) and Purcell’s Rejoice in the Lord Alway (Bell Anthem)
Isle of Man-based string quartet Kelly & Co – Kelly Sweetman (cello), Juliet Tranter (violin), Melvyn Booth (violin) and Roy Baker (viola) will complement all the singing with two fine string pieces - Mozart: String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575 - First Movement -Allegretto, in D major and Haydn: Opus 33 No.3 in C Major (The Bird) - Finale: Rondo Presto.
Concert organiser Graham Kirkland says: “We’re delighted that Tom and Monty are able to join us to take part in what promises to be a super evening of music-making. There’s some great repertoire being performed and everyone’s really looking forward to the concert which promises to be a real treat.”
There’s free admission to the concert with a retiring collection in aid of church funds. Cheese and wine will be served after the performance.
Photo - Monty Jones
