Finsbury Park Singers and Finsbury A Cappella conducted by Charles MacDougall
Charis Hanning pianist
Please ensure your phone and any other electronic devices are switched to silent. Enjoy the concert!
There will be a retiring collection in support of Young Minds
Programme
Finsbury Park Singers
Ndikhokhele Bawo – Xhosa Prayer, arr. Mzwandile Mabuza
Songs and Sonnets – Music by George Shearing, words by William Shakespeare
- Live with me and be my love
- When daffodils begin to peer
- Who is Silvia?
Finsbury A Cappella
She’s like the swallow – Traditional arr. Chapman
Because of you – Angela Reith
The Water of Tyne – Folksong arr. Michael Neum
Kakwa Moma – Traditional Bulgarian, arr. U. Knorrn
How deep is your love – Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, arr. Julie Gaulke
Lake Isle of Innisfree – Eleanor Daley
Finsbury Park Singers
Set me as a seal – René Clausen
Time after time – Cyndi Lauper, arr. Partington
Seasons of Love – Larson, arr. Mac Huff
Finsbury Park Singers
Finsbury Park Singers is a mixed-voice community choir based in North London, founded by Hannah Brine in September 2018. In 2019 the choir performed at the BBC Proms in a performance of In the Name of the Earth by John Luther Adams, and in 2020 it was performed Andre Thomas’ Symphonic Gospel Spirit with the London Symphony Orchestra as part of a massed choir. During the covid lockdown the singers created several virtual choir videos, and continuing their charity fundraising efforts. Find out more at www.finsburyparksingers.uk
Finsbury A Cappella
Finsbury A Cappella is a new upper voices vocal ensemble, founded in January 2023. The ensemble welcomes new members by audition for the Summer term which begins on Tuesday 23rd April – for more information, visit www.finsburyacappella.co.uk
Charles MacDougall
Charles MacDougall, known equally for his singing and his transformative work with choirs and singers, was appointed director of Finsbury Park Singers and Finsbury A Cappella in early 2023.
A former member of internationally-acclaimed vocal ensemble VOCES8, he now sings for a number of other ensembles, including Gabrieli Consort and Players, London Voices (appearing on numerous film soundtracks) and London Early Opera (including as a soloist on their releases Handel at Vauxhall, Vol.1 & 2, Signum Classics), as well as undertaking solo engagements internationally.
An accomplished choral conductor and vocal coach, he is Chorus Director for Gabrieli ROAR, Vocal Ensembles Coach and Tutor in Vocal Studies at Junior Trinity (Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance) and directs 3 choirs in London. Recent directing highlights include conducting the world premieres of both Errollyn Wallen’s MAP: Songs For Children Everywhere for Britten-Pears Arts in Hull and Snape Maltings, and David Bruce’s Songs of Home for the 25th anniversary of The Voices Foundation at St John’s Smith Square. He is extremely active as a workshop leader, presenting sessions for the BBC Singers, UK Choir Festival, Association of British Choral Directors, LSO and Stay At Home Choir.
As an educator, he was part of the team that received the Music and Drama Education Award for Excellence in Primary/Early Years 2018 and he helped devise and deliver the daily Virtual Sing for children on lockdown in 2020. In 2021 he wrote the first volume of Inside Singing, a choral resource for primary school choir leaders, shortlisted for Outstanding Music Education Resource in the Music and Drama Education Awards 2023.
A fierce advocate for the importance of music and music education, he is the Choral Director of Voices Foundation, an Ambassador for Britten-Pears Arts, a Trustee of IntoOpera, and a Director and Trustee of the Choral Foundation, Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace.
Charis Hanning – pianist
With family roots in Vancouver and Hong Kong, pianist Charis Hanning made London her home after arriving there as a naive student in 2009 with little more than her Canadian hoodie and keep-cup. Her sense of adventure is ever-present, making her a versatile, creative and spirited artist.
Experienced in solo, accompaniment and chamber music, Charis loves most of all to collaborate with others. She is a founding member of the Jacquin Trio, and has worked with instrumentalists and singers from around the world in places such as Fundación Juan March and Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. She has also combined with singers at the Aldeburgh English Song Project and Vancouver International Song Institute. Currently she very much enjoys working with students at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, as their Junior Fellow accompanist.
Charis has given solo performances in the UK including at Purcell Room and St Martin-in-the-Fields, and also in Canada, Hong Kong, Italy and India. Among her solo awards are the McCallum Prize at the Royal Overseas League Keyboard Competition, the Belle Shenkman Award and the John & Jean Redcliffe-Maud Prize at RCM.
Beyond her concert schedule, Charis takes great delight in inspiring music-lovers and music-novices alike. She coaches chamber groups and gives masterclasses for young musicians, is staff pianist at Trinity Laban’s Junior Department, mentors artists for Live Music Now, leads creative workshops and gives teacher-trainings.
Charis received her MMus with distinction from RCM and her BMus from the University of British Columbia.
Young Minds
Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health.
The charity wants to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and all young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.
Their purpose is to stop young people’s mental health reaching crisis point. Every young person whose mental health ends up in crisis is a young person who has been failed. The earlier young people can access the right help, the more likely it is that they can avoid these crises.
Their vision is for a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health and where every young person who is struggling feels able to reach out, and has people and services around them who can really help.
Their mission it to make sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what. They may need a reassuring conversation, specialist mental health support, or simply the knowledge that they are not alone in how they are feeling.
Acknowledgements
A huge thanks to all the singers involved in tonight’s concert for their hard work. An especially big thank you goes to the team of volunteers from the choir who have helped make this event possible.
Thanks to the staff at Holy Sepulchre and to you, our lovely audience, for supporting us.