Sing a new song to the Lord

Exciting developments are in hand in the musical life of St Mary's, Maldon, with the appointment of professional opera singer and impresario Colin Baldy (right) as the church's first director of music

COLIN Baldy took up his position as director of music at St Mary's, Maldon, at Advent Sunday 2007. It is the first time the parish has appointed a professional musician as director of music. Colin's career
encompasses performing, teaching, writing and directing. As a singer, he is known principally as a character baritone.

A new choir was formed in late-January this year. This is made up of children and adults and leads the worship Sunday by Sunday. In time, Colin hopes it will also be able to give the occasional concert. He is pushing them hard, giving them new music each week in an effort to teach them how to sight-sing. This tackling of new repertoire each week means that the choir has already learnt and performed works by Lassus, Mozart, Bach, Tallis, Palestrina and Pergolesi, to name just a
few.

Most excitingly, St Mary's choir has already been invited to sing Evensong at St Mary's, Woolnoth, in the City of London for a congregation of bishops on the eve of the Lambeth Conference on July 15.
Colin is always pleased to receive enquiries from potential new choir members; adults or children. In addition to working with the choir, Colin has instigated the post of organ scholar, which is currently held by talented local musician, Paul Johnson.

The scholarship funds Paul's music lessons, sheet music and attendance on courses as well as aiding him in acquiring valuable skills as a church musician. It is hoped that these will aid
in Paul's applications for organ scholarships at Oxbridge.

Another exciting development since Colin's appointment is the project to install a new pipe organ. The parish already knew that this was an urgent matter which would need attention in the near future.

Having a professional musician on the staff, however, means that things have already started moving.

A site visit by Hey Orgelbau from Thuringia in Germany, took place on April 10. Colin is determined that St Mary's is given an organ which will not only be worthy of the church but will generate interest within the musical world nationally.

Perhaps the most exciting development, since Colin's arrival, is the foundation of the Maldon Festival of Arts. This will take place at various venues in Maldon but will be centred on St Mary's.

When he moved to Maldon, Colin also moved his company, Hand Made Opera to the town. Over recent years, Hand Made Opera has enjoyed considerable success locally, through its productions
for Opera in the Orchard at Wickham Bishops. That collaboration has now come to an end and the company is keen to build and develop further its work in the area.

Colin says that, during Hand Made Opera's tenancy at Opera in the Orchard, the audiences increased by 50 per cent year on year. This was all as a result of word of mouth about the high
quality of performances. There is obviously a demand for good quality professional music in Maldon and district and Colin hopes that the festival will ensure that many more concerts and operas can be presented for local people. Many more indeed!

The full programme is:

June 13 (8pm): World Music Concert (St Mary's). Kike Pedersen, Paraguyan Harp. Kadialy Kouyate, Senegalese Kora
June 14 (7.30pm): Celebrity Recital (St Mary's). James Bowman, Counter-tenor
June 21 & 22: Hand Made Opera presents Gilbert and Sullivan's ‘Trial by Jury' in the historic 18th century court room of the Moot Hall. This production inaugurates the Friends of the Moot Hall.
June 26-28: MacTheatre presents Macbeth as Shakespeare in the Park (Promenade Park)
July 4 & 5 (7.30pm): Hand Made Opera with students of the Plume School, Maldon, present Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (Promenade Park).
July 12 (7.30pm): St Peter's Singers, Vauxhall, sing Rachmaninov's Vespers (St Mary's).
July 13 (7.30pm): Essex Youth Chamber Orchestra perform Beethoven's Second Symphony and Mozart concert arias with soprano (St Mary's).

Further information and ticket purchases can be made at the Maldon Tourist Office on 01621 856503.

In addition, there is a series of free lunchtime recitals each Thursday throughout the festival in Maldon URC.

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