top of page

Past Events

(In reverse date order)

Date: 08 June 2024

Venue: Frauenkirche, Dresden, Germany.

Occasion: 65th Anniversary of twinning, Tour to Dresden

Conductors: Jack Lovell-Huckle and Axel Langmann

Involving: Spires Philharmonic  Chorus & Neuer chor Dresden

Soloist: Tatyana Shepoval

and

Date: 15 June 2024

Venue: St. James church, Bullkington CV12 9JB

Occasion: Summer Concert Series - 65th Anniversary of twinning with Dresden

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus

Soloist: Audrey  Mullender

Repertoire:

Schubert, Franz    An die Musik    
Franck, Melchior    Da Pacem Domine
Bruckner, Anton    Locus Iste
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus    Ave Verum Corpus
J. S. Bach   Fantasia on "Komm Heiliger Geist, Herr Gott" (BWV 651) (organ solo)
Beach, Amy    Peace, I Leave with you
Faure, Gabriel    Cantique de Jean Racine
Trad. Ukranian    Cherez pole schirokee
Stanford, Charles Villiers    The Blue Bird
Webster, Martin    Irish Blessing
C. V. Stanford   Prelude to an old Irish Church Melody (organ solo)
C. V. Stanford   Prelude on a theme by Orlando Gibbon (organ solo)
Brahms, Johannes    Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 – IV “Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen”
Gjeilo, Ola    Ubi Caritas
Mendelssohn, Felix    Verleih uns Frieden
Handel, George Frideric    Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus

Date: 06 April 2024

Venue: Burgess Hall, King Henry VIII School, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series - Opera's Greatest Hits

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Natasha Agarwal (soprano), Gaynor Keeble (mezzo-soprano), Ed Harrisson (tenor), Peter Lidbetter (bass)

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - The Magic Flute: Overture

Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich - Eugene Onegin: Waltz Scene
Bizet, Georges - Carmen: Habanera

Bizet, Georges - Carmen: Toreador's Song

Delibes, Léo - Lakmé: Flower Duet
Mascagni, Pietro - Cavalleria Rusticana: Easter Hymn

Puccini, Giacomo - Turandot: Nessun dorma
Verdi, Guiseppe - La Traviata: Brindisi
Wagner, RIchard - Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
Borodin, Alexander - Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances

Bizet, Georges - The Pearl Fishers: Au fond de temple saint

Puccini, Giacomo - Madame Butterfly: The Humming Chorus

Puccini, Giacomo - Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Purcell, Henry - Dido and Aeneas: Dido's Lament and Final Chorus
Verdi, Guiseppe - Aida: Triumphal Scene from Act II

Verdi, Guiseppe - Nabucco: Va penseiero

Date: 20 January 2024

Venue: Burgess Hall, King Henry VIII School, Coventry

Occasion: Play & Sing Day - Opera Choruses

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - The Magic Flute: Overture
Bizet, Georges - Carmen: March of the Toreadors
Mascagni, Pietro - Cavalleria Rusticana: Easter Hymn
Verdi, Guiseppe - La Traviata: Brindisi
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Don Giovanni: La ci darem la mano
Borodin, Alexander - Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances
Purcell, Henry - Dido and Aeneas: Dido's Lament and Final Chorus
Puccini, Giacomo - Madam Butterfly: Humming Chorus
Leoncavallo, Ruggero - Pagliacci: Bell Chorus

Date: 25 November 2023

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series - A musical Aviary

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Soloist and Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Repertoire:

Haydn, Franz Joseph - Symphony No. 83 "The Hen" - I Allegro spiritoso
Janequin, Clement - Le Chant des Oyseaux
Stanford, Charles Villiers - The Blue Bird
Beach, Amy - A Hermit Thrush at Eve
Bach, JS - Gott ist mein König, BWV 71 - movements 6 & 7
Vaughan Williams, Ralph - The Lark Ascending (Soloist Alistair Kennedy)

Sibelius, Jean - The Swan of Tuonela
Handel, George Frederic - Solomon - The Nightingale Chorus
Elgar, Edward - Owls [An Epitaph]
Beethoven, Ludwig van - Symphony No. 6 - 2nd movement "By the brook"
Shaw, Caroline - and the swallow
The Unthanks - Magpie
Beach, Amy - Summer Dreams - 2nd movement "Robin Redbrest"
Whitacre, Eric - Little Birds
McCartney, Paul - Blackbird

Date: 23 September 2023

Venue: Baginton Road United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Orchestra Play Day - Swan Lake
Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle
Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Repertoire:

Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich - Swan Lake

 

Date: 17 June 2023

Venue: Baginton Road United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Play and sing Mozart Requiem
Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle
Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Requiem

Date: 15 April 2023

Venue: Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series - From the New World

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Natasha Agarwal (soprano), Gaynor Keeble (mezzo-soprano), Ed Harrisson (tenor), Peter Lidbetter (bass)

Repertoire:

Dvořák, Antonín - Symphony No. 9 'From the New World'

Beach, Amy - Grand Mass in Eb (UK Premiere)

Review of concert:

Click here

Date: 19 November 2022

Venue: Baginton Road United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series - The Sun, Moon & Stars
Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle
Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Repertoire:

Haydn, Franz Joseph - Symphony No. 6 ‘Le Matin’

Boulanger, Lil - Hymn to the sun

Delius, Frederick - Pale Amber Sunlight

Richter, Max - On the Nature of Daylight

Bach, J.S. - Cantata No. 79 "Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild"
Elgar, Edward - Lux Aeterna
Gjeilo, Ola - Northern Lights

Beethoven, Ludwig van - Moonlight Sonata (arr. Piano & String Orchestra)

Dvořák, Antonín - Song to the Moon (arr. Violin & Orchestra, Alistair Kennedy, violin solo)
Villa-Lobos, Heitor - The Three Maries (arr. Chamber Orchestra)
Esenvalds, Eriks - Stars

Bach, J.S. - Cantata No. 1 "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern"

Date: 24 September 2022

Venue: Baginton Road United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Orchestra Play Day - Shostakovich's 5th Symphony
Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle
Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Repertoire:

Shostakovich, Dmitri - Symphony No. 5

Date: 9 July 2022

Venue: Coventry Cathedral

Occasion: Summer Concert Series - The Creation

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Soloists: Soprano: Holly Teague, Soprano (Eve): Audrey Mullender, Tenor: David Woods, Bass: Peter Lidbetter

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus with members of the Warwick & Kenilworth Choral Society and Coventry Philharmonic Choir 

 

Repertoire:

Haydn, Franz Joseph - The Creation

Date: 23 April 2022, 2:30pm

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series – Dvorak & Mozart

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Dvořák, Antonín – Symphony No. 8 in G Major

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – “Great” Mass in C minor, K. 427

Date: 27 - 29 January 2022, 7:30pm

Venue: Coventry Cathedral, Coventry

Occasion: Ghosts in the Ruins concert as part of Coventry UK City of Culture

Conductor: Rachel Mahon

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus, Coventry Cathedral Choristers, The Choir with No Name

Repertoire: Ghosts in the Ruins by Nitin Sawhney
 

Date: 27 November 2021, 2:30pm

Venue: Warwick Row United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – The Changing Seasons

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloist: Alistair Kennedy

 

Repertoire:

Holst, Gustav – St Paul’s Suite

Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel – Summer is Gone

Vivaldi, Antonio – The Four Seasons – Autumn

Brahms, Johannes - Nänie

Beach, Amy – Peace on Earth

Vivaldi, Antonio – The Four Seasons – Winter

Elgar, Edward – The Snow

Delius, Frederick – On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

Handel, G.F. – Worthy is the Lamb; Amen (from Messiah)

Webster, Martin – An Irish Blessing

Date: 4 April 2020, 4pm (cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Chorus Director: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Jenny Stafford (soprano), Gaynor Keeble (mezzo-soprano), David Woods (tenor), Alistair Ollerenshaw (baritone)

 

Repertoire:

Dvořák, Antonín – Symphony No. 8 in G Major

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – “Great” Mass in C minor, K. 427

  

Date: 23 November 2019, 2:30pm

Venue: Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Advent Concert

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Locatelli, Pietro – Christmas Concerto

Charpentier, Marc-Antoine – Messe de Minuit pour Noël

plus a selection of Christmas music and old English carols

  

Date: 1 June 2019

Venue: Coventry Cathedral

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – Coventry & Dresden in Concert – Celebrating 60 years of Friendship*

Conductors: Axel Langmann, Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Neuer Chor (Dresden)

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Overture to ”Coriolan”

Schubert, Franz – An Die Musik

Parry, Hubert – Songs of Farewell No. 1 “My soul, there is a Country” & No. 3 “Never weather beaten sail”

Copland, Aaron – At The River

Brahms, Johannes – Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 – IV “Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen”

Mendelssohn, Felix – Psalm 98 “Singet dem Herrn nein neues Lied”

Elgar, Edward – Enigma Variations – Variation IX “Nimrod”

Rachmaninoff, Sergei – All-Night Vigil – VI “Bogoroditse Devo”

Spofforth, Reginald – Hail! Smiling Morn

Bach, J.S. – Freut Euch Alle

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Ave Verum Corpus

Fauré, Gabriel – Cantique de Jean Racine

Handel, George Frideric – Messiah – “Hallelujah!” Chorus

 

*Sponsored by an anonymous donor, Coventry Cathedral and the Lord Mayor of Coventry

  

Date: 13 April 2019

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Chorus Director: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Jeni Bern (soprano), Gaynor Keeble (mezzo-soprano), Mark Wilde (tenor), Quentin Hayes (baritone)

 

Repertoire:

Dvořák, Antonín – Symphony No. 7 in D minor

Smyth, Ethel – Mass in D

 

 

Date: 24 November 2018

Venue: Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Alistair Donaghue (baritone), Matthew Pearson (treble)

 

Repertoire:

Parry, Hubert – Songs of Farewell

Fauré, Gabriel – Cantique de Jean Racine

Pankhurst, Lucy: Pankhurst Anthem

Fauré, Gabriel – Requiem in D minor

  

Date: 16 April 2018

Venue: Heiliggeistkirche, Frankfurt

Occasion: Spring Concert Series – Commemoration of the Centenary of WW1

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Chorus Director: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Involving: Lufthansa Orchester, Lufthansa Konzertchor, Spires Philharmonic Chorus 

Soloists: Katherina Konradi (soprano), Thomas Herberich (baritone)

 

Repertoire:

Brahms, Johannes – Variations on a Theme by Haydn (St. Anthony)

Brahms, Johannes – Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45

  

Date: 7 April 2018

Venue: Coventry Cathedral

Occasion: Spring Concert Series – Coventry & Frankfurt: An Enactment of Peace & Reconciliation in the Centenary of World War 1*

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Chorus Director: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Lufthansa Konzertchor (Frankfurt), members of the Lufthansa Orchestra

Soloists: Waimay Yau (soprano), Jerzy Olsson-Nagorski (baritone)

 

Repertoire:

Dvořák, Antonín – Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Op. 60

Brahms, Johannes – Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45

 

*Sponsored by Koolbreeze, Coventry Cathedral, the Lord Mayor of Coventry and a private donor.

  

Date: 2 December 2017 

Venue: Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Advent Concert

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Grace Bermingham (soprano), Kath Hardy (mezzo-Soprano), Alistair Donaghue (baritone)

 

Repertoire:

Handel, George Frideric – Messiah (extracts)

Spofforth, Reginald – Hail! Smiling Morn

Praetorius, Michael – Est Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen

Vivaldi, Antonio – Gloria

Bach, J.S. – Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

plus a selection of Christmas music and old English carols

  

Date: 22 April 2017 

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series 

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Chorus Director: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: 

 

Repertoire:

Brahms, Johannes – Symphony No. 4 in E minor

Schubert, Franz – Mass No. 5 in A flat Major

  

Date: 12 November 2016 

Venue: United Reformed Church Warwick Road, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series - Exploring Handel*

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Handel, George Frideric – Israel in Egypt (excerpts)

Stradella, Alessandro – Serenata (excerpts)

Urio, Franceso Antonio – Te Deum (excerpts)

Erba, Diongi – Magnificat (excerpts)

Kerll, Johann Kaspar – Canzona No. 4 in E minor

Handel, George Frideric – The Ways of Zion do mourn

 

*Sponsored by the Coventry Umbrella Club

  

Date: 18 June 2016 

Venue: Earlsdon Methodist Church, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – How Sweet the Music

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Involving: Spires Wind Octet & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Overture to “Fidelio”

Shearing, George – Songs & Sonnets from Shakespeare
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Serenade No. 12 in C minor, K. 388
Vaughan Williams, Ralph – Serenade to Music

  

Date: 2 April 2016

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Chorus Director: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Alistair Kennedy

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Zoe Challenor (soprano), Charlotte Ireland (mezzo-soprano), Tim Down (tenor), Jerzy Nagorski (bass)

 

Repertoire:

Brahms, Johannes – Symphony No. 3 in F Major

Haydn, Franz Joseph – Mass in D “Nelson”

  

Date: 18 November 2015

Venue: The Chapel, Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – And the Dark Somme Flowing: A Centenary Reflection in Words & Music (as guests of the Stoneleigh History Society and the Earlsdon Research Group)

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus

Soloists: Abigail Rhodes (soprano), Leslie Blezard (alto), Janis Raishbrook (alto), Penny Turnbull (alto), David Blezard (bass)

 

Date: 14 November 2015 

Venue: Lancaster Priory

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Sing Us Your Dreams: A meditation in music, images & local stories on aspects of World War 1 & its aftermath*

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus, The University of Warwick Chamber Brass Ensemble, Hilary Minns (piano accordion), Bill Hardy (piano); with contributions from the Earlsdon Research Group

 

*Sponsored by Coventry City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund

 

Repertoire:

Torbe, Mike: Sing Us Your Dreams (Avril Newey, author)

  

Date: 7 November 2015 

Venue: Earlsdon Methodist Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Sing Us Your Dreams: A meditation in music, images & local stories on aspects of World War 1 & its aftermath*

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus, The University of Warwick Chamber Brass Ensemble, Hilary Minns (piano accordion), Bill Hardy (piano); with contributions from the Earlsdon Research Group

 

*Sponsored by Coventry City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund

 

Repertoire:

Torbe, Mike: Sing Us Your Dreams (Avril Newey, author)

  

Date: 3 July 2015 

Venue: Earlsdon Methodist Church, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – Haydn & Cakes

Conductor: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus, Birmingham Conservatoire String Quartet Soloists: Eleanor Grant (soprano), Peter Robertson (organ)

 

Repertoire:

Haydn, Franz Joseph – String quartet in C Major, Op. 33, No. 3, “The Bird”
Haydn, Franz Joseph – Die Harmonie in der Ehe

Haydn, Franz Joseph – Aus dem Danklied zu Gott

Haydn, Franz Joseph – Abendlied zu Gott
Haydn, Franz Joseph – Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo, “The Little Organ Mass”

  

Date: 11 April 2015, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Chorus Director: Jack Lovell-Huckle

Leader: Matthew Batty

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Imogen Faris (soprano), Charlotte Ireland (mezzo-soprano), Oliver Marshall (tenor), Samuel Lom (bass)

 

Repertoire:

Brahms, Johannes – Symphony No. 2 in D Major
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Requiem, K. 626

  

Date: 22 November 2014, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series

Conductor: Roger Coull

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Spires Youth Orchestra

Soloists: Imogen Faris (soprano) Sarah Nicholson (alto), Simon Lytton (tenor), Samuel Lom (bass)

 

Repertoire:

Sullivan, Arthur – Overture to “The Mikado”
Vaughan Williams, Ralph – Rhosymedre
Praetorius, Michael – Dances from “Terpsichore”
Elgar, Edward – Enigma Variations – Variation IX “Nimrod”

Bach, C.P.E. – Magnificat

  

Date: 5 July 2014, 7.30pm

Venue: King Henry VIII School Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Leader: Julian Zhou

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra

Soloists: Elinor Davies (clarinet), Julian Zhou & Bella Bourne (violins)

 

Repertoire: 

Spiegl, Fritz/Arlan, Manfried – The Radio 4 UK Theme
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich – The Nutcracker – “Waltz of the Flowers” & “Trepak (Russian Dance)”
Sangster, Adam – Memoriam For John (World Premiere)
Weber, Carl Maria von – Concertino for Clarinet
Various (arr. Lopez) – James Bond Medley
Gray, Barry (arr. Ling) – “Thunderbirds March”

Lloyd Webber, Andrew (arr. Custer) – Selection from “Phantom of the Opera”
Shostakovich, Dmitri – Jazz Suite No. 2 – Waltz from “The Age of Gold”,
Delibes, Léo – Lakme – “Flower Duet”
Debussy, Claude –Suite Bergamasque – “Clair de Lune”
Anderson, Leroy – Jazz Pizzicato
Vivaldi, Antonio – Concerto for 2 violins in A minor
J. Strauss II: Vergnügungszug Polka, Op. 281 
Dostal, Hermann, arr Fritz Killer – Fliegermarsch

  

Date: 11 June 2014, 7.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – Music from Saxony

Conductors: Daniel Spogis, Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, TU Kammerphilharmonie (Dresden) Soloist: Egidius Strieff (violin)

 

Repertoire:

Wagner, Richard – Siegfried Idyll
Schumann, Robert – Fantasy for Violin & Orchestra
Brahms, Johannes – Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny)
Mendelssohn, Felix – Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

 

Date: 26 April 2014, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series – Shakespeare Concert

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph – Serenade to Music
Nicolai, Otto – Overture to “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich – Fantasy Overture “Romeo & Juliet”
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Missa Solemnis in C minor, K. 139 

  

Date: 16 March 2014, 2.30pm

Venue: Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Leader: Julian Zhou

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra

Soloists: Lucy Edmunds (double bass), Callum Ellis & Lizzie Bolitho (cellos)

 

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Overture to “Don Giovanni”, K. 527
Cimador, Giambattista – Concerto for Double Bass in G Major

Vivaldi, Antonio – Concerto for 2 Cellos in G minor, RV. 351

Walton, William – March “Crown Imperial”

Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich – Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17, “Little Russian”

  

Date: 8 February 2014

Venue: King Henry VIII School, Coventry

Occasion: SPO & KHVIII Joint Concert Series

Conductor(s): Colin Touchin (& Alastair Kennedy?)

Involving: Members of Spires Philharmonic Orchestra, King Henry VIII Players Soloist: Sam Ellis (percussion)

 

Repertoire:

Shostakovich, Dmitri – Chamber Symphony Op 110a (extracts)
Mayuzumi, Toshiro – Percussion Concerto
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich – Symphony No. 5 in E minor

  

Date: 23 November 2013

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: SPO & SYO Joint Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Spires Youth Orchestra

Narrator*: Selwyn Calvin

 

Repertoire:

Mendelssohn, Felix – “The Hebrides” Overture
Smetana, Bedřich – Vltava
Mendelssohn, Felix – A Midsummer Night's Dream – “Nocturne”
Holst, Gustav – The Planets – “Mars”
Mussorgsky, Modest – Pictures at an Exhibition – “The Great Gate of Kiev”

Taylor, Max – I Have a Dream* (World Premiere)

  

Date: 12 July 2013, 7.30pm

Venue: Allesley Church, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – Allesley Festival 2013 – Songs for Summer

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires String Quartet & Chorus

Soloist*: Clarissa Knee (soprano)

 

Repertoire:

Touchin, Colin – Adlestrop 2012
Pugh, Lydia – The Year – “May”, “June” & “July”
Torbe, Mike – Folk song setting “Bitter Withy”
Rachmaninoff, Sergei – All Night Vigil – VI “Bogoroditsye Dyevo”
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Ave Verum Corpus
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Laudate Dominum*
Elgar, Edward – My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land
Elgar, Edward – As Torrents in Summer

  

Date: 6 April 2013, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Felicity Barnard (soprano), Claire McKay (mezzo-soprano), Tim Down (tenor), Edwin Kay (baritone)

 

Repertoire:

Brahms, Johannes – Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Haydn, Franz Joseph – Mass in Time of War, “Paukenmesse”

  

Date: 17 March 2013, 7pm

Venue: King Henry VIII School Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra

Soloists: Michael Dworkin & Peter ? (trumpets), Callum Ellis (cello)

 

Repertoire:

Vivaldi, Antonio – Concerto in C Major

Hardiman, Ronan – The Lord of the Dance

Fauré, Gabriel – Elegie, Op. 24

Sullivan, Arthur – Symphony in E Major

  

Date: 2 February 2013, 7pm

Venue: King Henry VIII School Hall, Coventry

Occasion: SPO & KHVIII Joint Concert Series

Conductor(s): Colin Touchin (& Alistair Kennedy?)

Involving: Members of Spires Philharmonic Orchestra, King Henry VIII Orchestra

 

Repertoire:

Elgar, Edward – Serenade for Strings

Dvořák, Antonín – Symphony No. 8 in G Major

  

Date: 5 January 2013 

Venue: Royal Leamington Spa Town Hall

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series – New Year Concert

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra

Soloist: Lucinda Bourne (violin)

 

Repertoire:

Mussorgsky, Modest – Night on a Bare Mountain

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Romance in F Major, for Violin & Orchestra

Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich – Symphony No. 5 in E minor

  

Date: 16 November 2012, 8.30pm

Venue: All Saints Church, Leamington Spa

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Elegant Elgar

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra, Spires Philharmonic Chorus

Soloist: Claire McKay (mezzo-soprano)

 

Repertoire:

Elgar, Edward – The Empire March
Handel, George Frideric – Zadok the Priest
Purcell, Henry – Abdelazar – “Rondeau”
Elgar, Edward – The Music Makers

  

Date: 11 November 2012

Venue: King Henry VIII School, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Remembrance Day Concert for Coventry Peace Month

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Adagio for two Clarinets & three Basset Horns

Barber, Samuel – Adagio for Strings

Ferrenc, Louise – Nonet in Eb Major

Schubert, Franz – Symphony No. 6 in C Major, D. 589

 

Date: 14 July 2012

Venue: Baginton

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series – Baginton Proms in the Park

Conductor:

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra

  

Date: 10 July 2012

Venue: Leamington Spa Centre

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series

Conductors: Colin Touchin, John James

Leaders: Isobel Williams, Lucinda Bourne

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra, Synergy (Leamington & Warwick Dance Acadamy)

 

Repertoire:

Gershwin, George – An American in Paris
Jenkins, Karl – Palladio
Wilkinson, Arthur – Beatlecracker Suite
Borodin, Alexander – Polovtsian Dances

 

Date: 16 June 2012

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry (11.00am), Lower Precinct (12.15pm)

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – Coventry Mysteries Festival Week 2012: Choose the Light

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Choirs from Earlsdon, Frederick Bird and Wyken Croft Schools

 

Repertoire:

Touchin, Colin: Choose the Light (World Premiere)

  

Date: 14 April 2012

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Sinfonia Concertante in Eb Major, K. 297b, for oboe, clarinet, bassoon & horn
Touchin, Colin – Coventry Suite (World Premiere)
Beethoven, Ludwig van – Symphony No. 9 in D minor, “Choral”

  

Date: 7 April 2012

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Long Itchington

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series

Conductors: Colin Touchin, Adam Sangster, Kelvin Ngai, John James

Leaders: Isobel Williams, Lucinda Bourne

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra, La Salle School Band (Hong Kong)

Soloist: Ethan Gardner (cello)

 

Repertoire:

Brahms, Johannes – “Academic Festival” Overture
Elgar, Edward – King Arthur Suite (UK Premiere of orchestral version)
Sangster, Adam – Discovery (World Premiere)
Saint-Saëns, Camille – Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33
Chabrier, Emmanuel – España
Elgar, Edward – Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1

  

Date: 23 March 2012

Venue: St Peter's Church, Leamington Spa

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series

Conductor: Gerard Hyland

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra, Musica Sacra

 

Repertoire:

Albinoni, Tomaso/Giazotto, Remo – Adagio for organ & strings
Masciangelo, Francesco (1823-1906) – Miserere mei Deus (Ps. 50) (first UK performance with orchestra)
Maunder, John Henry – Olivet to Calvary

 

 

Date: 4 February 2012

Venue: King Henry VIII School, Coventry

Occasion: SPO & KHVIII Joint Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Members of Spires Philharmonic Orchestra, King Henry VIII School Orchestra

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Overture to “Coriolan”
Schubert, Franz – Symphony No. 7 in B minor, “Unfinished”

  

Date: 3 January 2012

Venue: Leamington Spa Town Hall

Occasion: Spires Youth Orchestra Concert Series – Debut Concert

Conductors: Colin Touchin, John James

Leaders: Isobel Williams, Lucinda Bourne

Involving: Spires Youth Orchestra

 

Repertoire:

Sousa, John Philip – March “The Liberty Bell”
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel – Christmas Overture
Delius, Frederick – Sleigh Ride
Handel, George Frideric – Music for The Royal Fireworks
J. Strauss II – Waltz “The Blue Danube”
Franck, César – Symphony in D minor

  

Date: 11 November 2011

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Austrian Autumn

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: from Spires Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Septet, Op. 20

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Te Deum in C Major, K. 141
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, K. 273
Schubert, Franz – Mass No. 2 in G Major, D. 167

  

Date: 23 April 2011

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Touchin, Colin – St. George of Coventry (World Premiere)

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Symphony No. 8 in F Major
Beethoven, Ludwig van – Mass in C Major

  

Date: 19 June 2010, 3pm

Venue: Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Occasion: Belgrade Concert Series – “Serenades for the City”

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Chamber Instrumentalists from Spires Philharmonic Orchestra, Spires Philharmonic Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Bernard, Émile – Divertissement, Op. 36
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Serenade in C minor, K. 388
Bruckner, Anton – Mass No. 2 in E minor

 

 

Date: 3 April 2010

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Neil Aston?

Involving: Chamber Instrumentalists from Spires Philharmonic Orchestra, Spires Philharmonic Chorus

Soloists: from Spires Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van (arr. Wendt) – Symphony No. 7 in A Major
Cherubini, Luigi – Requiem in C minor

  

Date: 6 February 2010, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Winter Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus

Soloists: Colin Druce (organ), Colin Touchin (recorder)

 

Repertoire:

Bond, Capel – I will always give thanks
Bruckner, Anton – Tantum ergo in C minor
Bruckner, Anton – Locus iste
Bond, Capel – Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
Touchin, Colin – Draconne
Bruckner, Anton – Tantum ergo in Eb Major
Bruckner, Anton – Ave Maria
Bond, Capel – Have mercy upon me, O God
Widor, Charles-Marie – Cantabile, from Symphony No. 6 (Organ solo)
Saint-Saëns, Camille – Allegro Giocoso (Organ solo)
Vivaldi, Antonio – Gloria

  

Date: 31 October 2009

Venue: King Henry VIII School, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Lucy Elliott (flute)

 

Repertoire:

Boyce, William – Symphony Op. 2, No. 4
Gluck, Christoph Willibald – Dance of the Blessed Spirits
Boyce, William – Symphony Op. 2, No. 1
Elgar, Edward – How calm the evening
Sullivan, Arthur – The long day closes
Parry, Hubert – My delight & thy delight
Stanford, Charles Villiers – My Love's an Arbutus
Boyce, William – Symphony Op. 2, No. 3
Bond, Capel – Anthem No. 4
Vivaldi, Antonio – Gloria

 

Date: 18 June 2009, 7.45pm

Venue: Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Occasion: Belgrade Concert Series – “Serenades for the City”

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Chamber Instrumentalists from Spires Philharmonic Orchestra 

 

Repertoire:

Brahms, Johannes – Serenade No. 2 in A Major
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Serenade in Bb Major, “Gran Partitta”, K. 361

  

Date: 13 June 2009, 3pm

Venue: Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Occasion: Belgrade Concert Series – “Serenades for the City”

Conductor:

Involving: Chamber Instrumentalists from Spires Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Repertoire:

Gounod, Charles – Petite Symphonie
Rossini, Gioachino – Quartet No.5
Dvořák, Antonín – Serenade in D minor, Op. 44

  

Date: 11 April 2009, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Symphony No. 6 in F Major, "Pastoral"

Haydn, Franz Joseph – Harmoniemesse

 

Date: 16 November 2008, 7.30pm

Venue: King Henry VIII School, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Alastair Kennedy (violin), Koshka Duff (piano)

 

Repertoire:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph – The Lark Ascending
Grieg, Edvard – Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Vaughan Williams, Ralph – Serenade to Music
Vaughan Williams, Ralph – Linden Lea
Vaughan Williams, Ralph – Toward the Unknown Region

  

Date: 29 June 2008

Venue: St Barbara’s Church, Earlsdon, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Heart of England Recorder Orchestra (HERO)

 

Repertoire:

Fauré, Gabriel – Requiem in D minor

Fauré, Gabriel – Cantique de Jean Racine

Grieg, Edvard – Holberg Suite

Touchin, Colin – Manchester Welcome

Coombes  – Dance Variations

  

Date: 22 March 2008, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Repertoire:

Schubert, Franz – Symphony No. 7 in B minor, "Unfinished"
Fauré, Gabriel – Cantique de Jean Racine 
Fauré, Gabriel – Requiem in D minor

  

Date: 29 September 2007, 2.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloist: Alex Laing (violin)

 

Repertoire:

Dvořák, Antonín – Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, Nos. 3 & 6

Bruch, Max – Violin Concerto No. 1

Elgar, Edward – The Black Knight

Elgar, Edward – As Torrents in Summer

Elgar, Edward – My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land

Elgar, Edward – They are at rest

  

Date: 20 April 2007

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series – Rotary Club – St George's Day

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Brass Ensemble & Philharmonic Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Purcell, Henry (arr. Touchin) – Come Ye Sons of Art – “To Celebrate”
Parry, Hubert – I Was Glad
Handel, George Frideric (arr. Snell) – Suite from “Water Music”
Boyce, William (arr. Snell) – Symphony No. 4
Purcell, Henry (arr. Hopkinson) – Abdelazar – “Rondeau” 
Handel, George Frideric – Zadok the Priest
Parry, Hubert (arr. Cook) – Jerusalem 

  

Date: 7 April 2007

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Symphony No. 5 in C minor
Brahms, Johannes – Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45

  

Date: 11 November 2006

Venue: Coventry Cathedral

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Celebrating Mozart – Mo Mowlam Fund for Peace

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloist: Clare-Louise Appleby (flute)

 

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Overture to “Don Giovanni”, K. 527
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Flute Concerto No. 1, K. 313
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Requiem, K. 626

  

Date: 9 September 2006

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Autumn Concert Series – Celebrating Mozart

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloist: Veronika Ilinskaya (piano)

 

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Piano Concerto No. 27 in Bb Major, K. 595
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Coronation Mass in C Major, K. 317

 

 

Date: 16 July 2006

Venue: War Memorial Park, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – Godiva Festival

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Beethoven, Ludwig van – Symphony No. 9 in D minor, “Choral” IV Finale

  

Date: 15 April 2006 

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

Occasion: Spring Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Requiem, K. 626
Handel, George Frideric (arr. Mozart) – Messiah (excerpts)

  

Date: July 2005

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Chorus, Colin Druce (organ)

 

Repertoire:

Handel, George Frideric – Messiah (excerpts)

  

Date: July 2005

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series

Conductor: Neil Aston

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Repertoire:

Prokofiev, Sergei – Peter & the Wolf

  

Date: July 2005

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Coventry

Occasion: Summer Concert Series

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

Soloists: Neil Aston (clarinet), Gaynor Keeble (mezzo-soprano)

 

Repertoire:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Clarinet Concerto, K. 622

Wood, Henry – Fantasia on British Sea Songs

Schubert, Franz – Overture in C

  

Date: July 2005

Venue: Coventry Memorial Park 

Occasion: Summer Concert Series – Godiva Festival

Conductor: Colin Touchin

Involving: Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

 

Repertoire:

Orff, Carl – Carmina Burana (excerpts)

bottom of page