The ‘Gwent Bach Society’ may sound like an academic body studying Bach, but in fact it is a friendly, sociable and dynamic choir of over 60 singers based primarily on Abergavenny.
When it was formed in 1951 it certainly sung mainly works by Bach, but soon expanded to other composers, giving for Abergavenny and the whole region a rich variety of music sung to a very high standard.
Conductor Roger Langford
In 2001 the Society recruited Roger Langford to be the Choir’s conductor and director of music. Roger has been involved with music making since the age of five. He was a chorister at Lichfield Cathedral, music scholar at Repton School, and gained a BA (Hons) in music from York University before going on to study at The Royal Academy of Music. He is ably accompanied at Thursday evening rehearsals in Trinity Church Hall by Vaughan Bennett.
The Society has a Social Group which arranges a wide variety of entertainment. This year, for example, the members of the choir will enjoy a summer’s evening garden party
and, later when the evenings draw in, a ‘Race Evening’ with supper. The Choir occasionally goes ‘on tour’, most recently to Cornwall.
Two notable recent performances, with a professional orchestra and outstanding soloists, were Mendelssohn’s Elijah in 2013, and Bach’s St John Passion this year. Other concerts have included works by composers such as Schutz, Vierne and Stainer. The Society’s next concert, on Saturday 8 November at St Mary’s Priory Church, marking the 100th Anniversary of the First World War, will be a performance of The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins. Tickets will be available from Abergavenny Music or 01873 890259.
The Society welcomes new members, though there may be a waiting list in some parts.
