Overgate Hospice Choir

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The Overgate Hospice Choir is based in Halifax, West Yorkshire and, through performances, raises money for Overgate Hospice in Elland, West Yorkshire.[1] It is notable because, as far as is known, Overgate was the first Hospice to have its own Choir, formed specifically for the purpose of raising money for the Hospice. Other such groups have followed, of course, but Overgate was the very first in that particular field.

Overgate Hospice Choir was formed in 1991 by Phillip Taylor and Donald Maxwell-Timmins for the purpose of participating in the prototype event in the mighty Voices for Hospices enterprise launched that Autumn. The involvement of the Halifax Choral Society at the Wakefield Cathedral VFH that year meant that Halifax, with a Hospice at Elland, would not be able to feature in the nation-wide effort unless a Choir were to be formed specifically for the purpose.

Its first Conductor was Donald Maxwell-Timmins and his wife Margaret served as accompanist in the early years. Following the retirement of both Mr & Mrs Maxwell-Timmins in 1997, the Leeds-based conductor and organist Dr Simon Lindley, a past President of the Royal College of Organists, became the Choir’s Music Director. Accompanists since then have included Rowland Moseley and Jonathan Lilley from Leeds and, for a more extended period, Wakefield Cathedral’s Thomas Moore. Alan Horsey was appointed to succeed Mr Moore as accompanist, and took up his post in Summer of 2009.

Guest conductors over the years have included Dr Donald Hunt OBE, Conductor of the Halifax Choral Society from 1957 to 1988 and a former Director of Music at Leeds Parish Church and Worcester Cathedral and Dr Gordon Stewart of Huddersfield Town Hall, an acclaimed Music Director of BBC Radio and Television religious programmes including Songs of Praise on BBC 1. Among organists who have played for the Choir may be numbered Philip C Tordoff, Organist of Halifax Minster since 1971, who played for many of the concerts in the early years and David Houlder from Leeds Parish Church as well as the Choir’s own accompanists over the years, Jonathan Lilley and Thomas Moore. Regular vocal soloists since the early and mid 1990s include Claire Strafford, Anita Wiencelewski, Kathryn Woodruff, Paul Dutton and Quentin Brown.

Overgate Hospice Choir is a choir of 80 mixed voices presenting four concerts a year of music from the standard choral repertoire,[2] along with Christmas Carols,[3] Hymns,[4] Opera Choruses[5] and Songs from the Shows.[6] Regular Performances are held in Halifax Minster, All Saints Church, Elland and Brighouse Central Methodist Church. The Choir has also presented Concerts at the Victoria Theatre (Halifax) and appeared at Leeds Town Hall.

References

  1. ↑ Halifax Courier 30/8/13 "Chorusing up charity cash"
  2. ↑ Halifax Evening Courier 25/10/11 Derek Greenwood "A night of contrasts from one composer"
  3. ↑ Halifax Courier 22/12/09 Gordon Sampson "A stirring singalong"
  4. ↑ Halifax Courier 21/3/11 Gordon Sampson "A £200,000 sing"
  5. ↑ Halifax Courier 22/5/12 Derek Greenwood " Choir's courageous Carmen shows off soloists' impressive vocals"
  6. ↑ Halifax Evening Courier 2/6/09 Gordon Sampson "Serenade for Spring"

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