All the same, but all different at Cantiones Choir

Mixed voice choir, Cantiones, has been a long-standing contributor to music in Oswestry and the wider area for more than 40 years with a reputation for presenting high quality performances. To mark their 40th Anniversary in 2021 Cantiones brought Haydn’s ‘Creation’ to life at the Holroyd Theatre, accompanied by The Borders Orchestra and fabulous professional soloists. The choir performs four regular concerts each year and throws its musical doors open to other singers for annual ‘Come and Sing’ events. Other ad hoc community performances recently have included singing around the town for Love Oswestry, charity carol singing and a summer performance in Oswestry’s Cae Glas Park bandstand.

The choir’s repertoire for concerts is chosen not only to attract an audience but also to inspire the singers so great care is taken to choose concert programmes. Professional soloists and musicians are invited to achieve varied timbres, artistry and expertise. Generally, the repertoire encompasses a huge range and variety of classical choral works, but the choir is never afraid of the challenge of new and more modern pieces with a few swing and jazz-inspired numbers thrown in to the mix in the more informal summer concert. Of late the choir has showcased works by female composers such as Imogen Holst, Judith Weir and Cecilia McDowall.

Cantiones has benefited for the past five years from working with noted composer and musician, Martin Bussey, as Musical Director who developed the choir’s quality and repertoire and saw them through the troubled times of Covid. Regular zoom singing sessions, followed eventually by socially distanced singing in fields and car parks ensured the music never stopped! A particular highlight of Martin’s tenure was a performance of Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gerontius’ when the choir joined forces with Chester Bach Singers, Chester Philharmonic and three stunning professional soloists at a packed Chester Cathedral in 2024.

The choir is determined to develop in many ways and fairly uniquely benefits from having a professional Vocal Coach, Sarah Wright-Owens, who assists the conductor in some rehearsals and runs the occasional vocal health and technique workshop. It is very important to the choir ethos to keep on improving vocal quality and musicianship however experienced the singer is.

There is an annual ‘Awayday’ when members of the choir visit a new location with different acoustics to practise technique and go through new repertoire, finishing the day with an informal concert. The very sociable lunch is always a popular part of this event.

The choir’s warm and inclusive spirit adds to the social side of the choir; many long-standing friendships have been forged amongst its ranks. This season the choir is pleased to have welcomed new singers in each voice section.

Martin Bussey retired as the choir’s Musical Director at the end of 2024 and, whilst he will be very much missed, Cantiones is delighted to welcome local well-regarded musician, Tony Coupe, in his stead. Director of Music at Ellesmere College, Tony is a conductor, composer and singer who brings a wealth of experience to Cantiones. Starting out as a chorister at Bristol Cathedral he went on to sing with Birmingham Cathedral Choir, Birmingham Oratory, Ex Cathedra, the Rodolphus Choir, and was part of the original cast of Sondheim’s ‘Saturday Night’.

Cantiones is continually evolving and looking out for new challenges to develop their choral sound and artistry. In 2025 under the baton of their new conductor, Tony Coupe, they will be exploring choral works by Mozart in the Spring with a selection of choral chamber works to follow in the Summer. It is planned to develop the considerable vocal talent within the choir itself to sing some of the smaller ensembles as well as inviting professional soloists to perform.

Cantiones’ Spring Mozart Concert will take place at 3:30pm on Saturday 12 April at Christ Church in Oswestry. We would love to see you there!