Globetrotting Harry Ensemble chamber choir bring joyful and uplifting concert to Douai Abbey
Coming to Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, on Saturday,September 27 The Harry Ensemble - a mixed chamber choir who tour to venues all over the world.
They will perform music by Giovanni Palestrina from the 16th century, Santa Pesci and Maria Rosa Coccia from the 18th century along with more contemporary pieces from Dilys Elwyn-Edwards, Rihards Dubra and Edward-Rhys Harry in a joyful and uplifting concert.
Their artistic director Dr Edward-Rhys Harry works across the UK and internationally as a voice coach, adjudicator, composer, arranger and choral conductor.
He comes from Penclawdd, on the Gower Peninsula. Aged 14 he was employed as an organist and began conducting rehearsals for choirs in local chapels and churches.
He has an MMus degree in composition from the London College of Music, where he studied with Francis Pott, Terry Davies and Laurence Roman.
Edward left full time teaching to study Choral Conducting with Simon Halsey (LSO), Adrian Partington (BBCNOW) and Neil Ferris (BBC Symphony Chorus)at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in Cardiff. There he was the first (and second) recipient of the RWCMD Glynne Jones Conducting Scholarship and graduated with an MA degree. He is the first Welshman to receive a recognised qualification in Choral Conducting.
Following work as vocal coach for Volgograd Opera House Chorus in Russia, Edward had the honour of being the artistic director of Llangollen International Eisteddfod for several years.
No stranger to media work, Edward has directed performances for S4C (channel 4 Wales), Sky Sports, ITV advertisements, ‘ident’ music for BBC 1,2,3,4 and all radio channels, as well as appearing on programmes such as BBC 1’s ‘The Apprentice – You’ve Been Fired’, ‘Dr Who’, the Rob Brydon Christmas Show (conducting Bryn Terfel), Euro Express (part of the Football Euros 2016) and ‘Sports Relief’, along with comedian Jack Whitehall.
Edward is the Artistic Director of Côr Siambr Cymru/Chamber Choir Wales, a professional chamber choir, as well as The Harry Ensemble’– his own chamber choir who, through performances and recordings, promote British choral music overseas. Their album ‘Remember’ is available to download now.
Visit https://www.harryensemble.com/discography to hear the choir and admin@harryensemble.com/ for booking information.
