The Choir of the Abby School Tewkesbury

The Abbey School, Tewkesbury is one of Britain's youngest choir schools having been founded in 1973 by Miles Amhurst as the choir school for Tewkesbury Abbey. The choir sings Evensong on weekdays in the Abbey during term time. Although the choir functions very much on the same lines as many cathedral choirs, the slightly smaller commitment allows the choir to undertake regular touring and recording work at times when other choirs are busy with the major church festivals. For example, in 1998 the choir spent the run up to Christmas on tour in the USA and in 2001 the choir was giving concerts in Paris over Easter. Touring has always been a regular feature of the choir's work and countries visited include Russia, Sweden, Belgium, Holland, USA, Germany and France. Whilst in Belgium, the choir performed Handel's Messiah in the Bruges Early Music Festival and the tour to Sweden came about once the choir's CD of christmas carols for Naxos had appeared in the Swedish classical charts.

2001 sees the choir giving more concerts in Paris and Poitiers and in 2002 the choir visits the USA for the third time marking the 900th anniversary of the monks' arrival at Tewkesbury.

Soloists:

Adam Jondelius (Drop, drop slow tears)
Toby Marshall (O Little town of Bethlehem)
James Mustard (This is the truth)

The Choir of The Abbey School, Tewkesbury on Guild Music

• GMCD 7223 Favourite Hymns for all Seasons II

Page created 11.05.2001