The spectacular ‘Christmas at Home’ carol service is set to brighten up 2020’s festive season for us all
- The Self-Isolation Choir, comprised of thousands of singers all singing in isolation, is joining together once more for a special carol service brimming with beloved classics to evoke the warmth of Christmas in the lives of families and children worldwide
- ‘Christmas at Home’ will be presented on Sunday 20th December 2020 at 5pm on The Self-Isolation Choir’s YouTube here
- The service will embrace all of the Christmas classics including ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘Three Kings’, ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘Silent Night’
- From its very beginning, the carol service is set to be a heart-warming and poignant occasion, as thousands of children from around the world will come together to sing the first verse of the opening carol, ‘Once in Royal David’s City’
- Elsewhere in the carol service, The Self-Isolation Choir will present the world premiere of a new carol written especially for the choir by composer Patrick Hawes, named “O Still, O Still the Night”
- Richard Gowers, who previously sung in the legendary King’s College Cambridge Choir under Sir Stephen Cleobury, has a special treat in store for the children involved in singing ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. They will receive an exclusive copy of Richard’s 2007 King’s College performance of the opening verse of the famous carol as an aide-memoire
- Recordare, an exciting young professional vocal ensemble founded by conductor Harry Bradford, will also perform in ‘Christmas at Home’
- Marina Mahler, composer Gustav Mahler’s granddaughter, will be reading a lesson during the Carol Service, alongside all voices from members of the choir
- The Self-Isolation Choir combines technology, fervent passion and expert teaching to provide singers across the globe with a rich, advanced and professional choral experience despite the current covid-emergency
- ‘Christmas at Home’ will work in the same way as The Self-Isolation Choir usually operates: As the singers of the choir and children learn the carol pieces, the choir broadcasts regular singing rehearsals for each carol that can be re-watched time and time again. Each singer then records and submits their performance of the works from the comfort of their own homes, before the Self-Isolation Choir then combines the various voices into whole carols
- The ‘Christmas at Home’ project then culminates in a magnificent carol service broadcast for singers to enjoy, share with others, and also to feel the full power of unity with many kindred spirits. Just like a choir, on the day of the performance each singer joins in from their homes, experiencing feelings of connection and shared achievement having created an entire carol service together
- The singers involved in ‘Christmas at Home’ will receive outstanding teaching from Ben England, who will lead the choir as Course Director of the project. As a conductor, teacher and baritone singer, Ben has previously sung with the New English Orchestra, the Bristol Chamber Choir and Bristol Opera, and has served as conductor for Bristol Cabot Choir and Musical Director of Bristol Opera
- The deadline for signing up is Sunday 29th November as this is the date by which all singers are required to submit their audio recordings of the carols. Within that timescale all of the teaching sessions are available to re-watch at any time
- For a course fee of £29.99, singers will receive live video rehearsals broadcast by Course Director Ben England, in addition to free sheet music and other exclusive content
- Members can invite all of their children / grandchildren to take part in the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’’
- Anyone can sign up to elicit the essence of Christmas through ‘Christmas at Home’ by visiting The Self-Isolation Choir’s website here
The Self-Isolation Choir Website https://www.theselfisolationchoir.com
‘Christmas at Home’ Website: https://www.theselfisolationchoir.com/christmas-at-home