During the past week, Schola Cantorum Jubilate hosted the University of London Chamber choir composed of 25 students and ex-students from the University of London. The choir is under the direction of Mro. Colin Durrant.
Dr. Durrant is a musical director with a wide experience in the musical field in England and abroad. He is a musician, educator and responsible of courses for professional musicians and music teachers. His main interest is that of leading educators and musical directors to be more effective and effcient in producing music. He is the author of ‘Choral conducting: philosophy and practice’, a well-known book for musical directors. The Schola Cantorum Jubilate director, Marouska Attard had various master classes with this prominent conductor with an international reputation.
The choristers visiting Malta and Gozo come from different faculties, Universities and even from different countries. The choir has medical, history, economics and veterinary students. Some also work in different companies but keep interested in choral music and keep attending for rehearsals and performances. Moreover, students enrolled with this choir come from England, USA, Germany and even from Singapore.
It was a busy week for the group which apart from the concerts it gave, the participants had the possibilty of visiting historical places, had time to relax and swim in the Mediterrenean and taste some delicious local and typical food.
The University of Lonond Chamber Choir held a lunchtime concert on Tuesday 24th June at Ta’ Ġieżu Church in Valletta and another one the following day at the Carmelite Church in Mdina. Both concerts were well attended by locals and foreigners. On Thursday 26th June, the choir crossed over to Gozo and held an evening concert at the Basilica of Xagħra. Again the attendance was excellent and the programme was well acclaimed.
The repertoire included English choral pieces amongst which pieces by Purcell, Byrd, Stanford and contemporary Chilcot, a Russian piece by Rashmaninov and by the American Eric Whitacre.
