Author: jhulayogayork

The Stonegate Singers and Coracle Chamber Singers teamed up again to present a concert at York Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, on Saturday 21st March.

Coracle sang an eclectic repertoire on the themes of magic, mystery and miracle, including the Bògòroditse Devo from Rachmaninov’s Vespers, works by Arvo Pärt, and folk song. The Stonegate Singers sang an eclectic repertoire including an a cappella arrangement of Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere, with local talent Camille Macquin-Jones on lead vocal, to arrangements of songs by Tom Waits, Karine Polwart and Ewan McColl. 

Camille also sang one of her own new songs on piano, That Old Feeling, and The Stonegate Singers’ director Jon Hughes sang 2 new recently written songs for voice and piano, December and The Love We Left Behind.

We were also treated to an amazing solo piano performance from 11-year-old phenomena Lora Spasova, a fantastic young emerging pianist.

We had a great time on Sunday, hosting a workshop from the excellent Ben and Dom. They introduced us to some great new repertoire, including an arrangement of Tom Wait’s song Come On Up to The House, and Kathrine Polwart’s Follow the Heron.

The Stonegate Singers and Vox Box sung beautiful wintery songs from all round the world, including Christmas music from the Balkans, Georgia, England, Bulgaria, and the Slavic Liturgy, folksong from Europe and old Occitan, along with some traditional Christmas Carols you’ll recognise, and some less well known village carols from Sheffield and Derbyshire.

There was also tradition jazz ballads from the newly formed Daunos Quartet, with Stonegate director Jon on piano and voice.

And there were mince pies and mulled wine served in the interval!

We had fun with a concert of a capella European folk music arrangements sung by The Stonegate Singers, followed by a ceilidh with The New Fox Band, playing traditional Scottish and English tunes. 

The New Fox Band are a pro ceilidh group based in York, specializing in traditional Scottish, English and barn dances, featuring a caller and a trio of fiddle, accordion, and percussion. 

The New Fox Band website

The Stonegate Singers and Vox Box Choir teamed up for our Summer Concert, and it was a great success this year at St Olaves’ Church!

We sung a capella vocal harmony from around the world, including European folk music, a little bit of 16th century polyphony,  arrangements of The Buzzcocks, Joy Division, The Beatles, compositions by director Jon Hughes, along with a handful of songs from Africa.

The Stonegate Singers teamed up with Coracle Chamber Singers for a concert exploring 500 years of English Song. 

From the renaissance lute songs of John Dowland and the madrigals of Wilbye, via Vaughan Williams, Tavener and English folksong arrangements, through to the songs of John Lennon, Ewan McColl and Joy Division. 

We had a great crowd, with pretty much every seat taken in the Unitarian Chapel…

coming up March 22nd! https://buytickets.at/thestonegatesingers/1169150

Rehearsals are going really well for our upcoming Ceilidh night and concert! Tickets are sold out…

Tea break!

We had a great folksong workshop with Sally Davies yesterday! It went really well! Learnt 3 new songs and a new round.