Norwich Cathedral Hosts Richard Allain CD Launch

Former Norwich Cathedral chorister, Benjamin Nicholas, returns to Norwich Cathedral with Merton College Choir to perform a unique concert to launch a CD of choral music by Richard Allain, Director of Music at Norwich School on Thursday, 5 July.

Merton will sing Evensong at 5.15pm followed by a choral concert and CD launch at 7pm. It has become a tradition that Norwich School Chapel Choir sing a short Choral Vigil at the end of the summer term. This year, both choirs will sing at the Vigil which begins at 9.30pm. There is no need to book for Evensong or the Vigil. However, if  you would like to attend the Choral Concert and the drinks reception, please book via www.ticketsource.co.uk/norwich-school.

Richard Allain (right) is Norwich School’s Director of Music. In addition to a busy teaching life, he is also active as a composer. His works encompass a wide range of styles, including music

theatre, sacred choral music, song-writing and works for children. He has been commissioned to write music for BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4. He has worked with many of the country’s leading choirs and musicians (including BBC Singers, King’s College, Cambridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Commotio, The Bach Choir, etc). His music has appeared at the BBC Proms, and his work is regularly performed and broadcast within the UK and throughout the world.

His new CD dedicated exclusively to his music, which has been recorded by the choir of Merton College, Oxford (Delphian Records) will be launched at the concert on 5th July 2018.

Ben Nicholas (pictured above with his choir) is Reed Rubin Organist & Director of Music at Merton College, Oxford. As a conductor he has appeared with the City of London Sinfonia, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, The Trondheim Soloists and The Holst Singers in works such as Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony, Holst’s Savitri and Duruflé’s Requiem. His most recent organ recording, of Elgar’s organ works, was described by The Sunday Times as ‘a musical achievement…captivating”.

Engagements this season include conducting the Holst Singers in the opening concert of the St John’s Smith Square ‘Vaughan Williams and Friends’ festival, conducting the Savitri Singers in the Cheltenham Music Festival, playing an organ concert in the IAO Festival, and appearing with The Tallis Scholars in the Bath Bach Festival.

Benjamin was a chorister at Norwich Cathedral before holding organ scholarships at Chichester Cathedral, Lincoln College, Oxford and St Paul’s Cathedral. At the age of twenty-three he became Director of the choir of men and boys at Tewkesbury Abbey where he remained until 2012. From 2011 -2016 he served the Edington Music Festival, firstly as conductor of the Schola and then as Festival Director.