Price Band: E-F

Canzonetta:
Jeffrey Wynn Davies	- Director

"The choir's performance was enjoyed immensely by a highly appreciative audience. It made for a perfect start to a very successful festival."
Llandeilo Festival of Music & Flowers - July 2004

In recent years Manchester based CANZONETTA has established itself as one of the UK's most versatile chamber choirs. Since winning the 1992 Sainsbury's Choir of the Year title, the group has appeared in many different formats - at major festivals including Cheltenham and Harrogate (three times); for numerous music clubs and societies, and with national and international orchestras. Particular highlights are its frequent performances of Baroque masterpieces with the Manchester Camerata.

The last two seasons have seen the world premiere of Andrew Carter's The Mystic Trumpeter in Chester Cathedral; Purcell, Pergolesi and Vivaldi at the Royal Northern College of Music; Messiah in Salford's new Lowry Centre and a number of appearances in Manchester's acclaimed Bridgewater Hall. These have included Britten, Elgar and Edward Gregson with organist Wayne Marshall; Judith Bingham, Giles Swayne and more Britten with Anthony Rolfe Johnson; Handel's Dixit Dominus (Camerata/Kraemer), and the semi chorus in the War Requiem (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Brabbins). There have also been broadcasts for both Radio 3 and Anglia Television. Last season's performances included Bach's B Minor Mass (Nicholas Kraemer), and Stainer's Crucifixion, again with Wayne Marshall; recordings of Carey Blyton's choral music at Snape Maltings, and appearances at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall and Buxton Opera House. Plans for this year include Messiah and the Duruflé Requiem, both in the Bridgewater Hall.

Other recent highlights have included a double CD of Gordon Lawson's choral music for Chameleon. Canzonetta's 'English Romantic Part Songs' CD has proved to be a popular seller, and a new recording of Andrew Carter's music - a 60th birthday tribute - is another recent release on the Guild label.

JEFFREY WYNN DAVIES (DIRECTOR)

Jeffrey Wynn Davies continues to enhance his already established reputation as one of the North of England's busiest and most versatile choral directors. Artistic Director of a recent Association of British Choral Directors National Convention, he conducted five international choirs in the world premiere of Andrew Carter's The Mystic Trumpeter in Chester Cathedral - part of the Convention's International Gala Concert. Recent choral/orchestral works he has conducted include the world premiere of Bede's Back! - incorporating Howard Blake's Benedictus - in Ripon Cathedral, and he was chorus director for the first performance of the opera Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Peter Ash/Donald Sturrock) in the Bridgewater Hall.

Founder/director of Canzonetta, he also directs the internationally renowned Manchester Boys Choir and Harrogate Choral Society, and has acted as Chorus Director to both Pavarotti and Carreras. He has worked with the Manchester Camerata, BT Scottish Ensemble and has chorus directed for the Hallé, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia.

He is much in demand as a choral trainer, working again this year for most of the major British choral organisations at weekend workshops throughout the country. He has judged choral competitions throughout the UK and Ireland as well as in mainland Europe and in South Africa. He sat on the jury at last season's Prague and Verona International Choral Festivals.

He has served on a number of national bodies, including the BBC Central Music Advisory Committee.