Tuesdays Till Two - Lunchtime Concert: Chris Why and James Bowstead (Tenor & Piano)

About

Once again, Tuesdays Till Two is bringing two new performers to St John's as we welcome tenor Chris Why and pianist and organist James Bowstead for a concert with a decidedly Anglo-Italian programme, featuring operatic and oratorio arias, Italian and Neapolitan popular song, and some classic traditional songs. With a song by Queen Victoria's singing professor, Paolo Tosti, who was later knighted by Edward VII, as well as rousing patriotic song "The British Grenadiers" there's also a respectful nod to the Platinum Jubilee.

As ever the church will be open for an hour before the concert begins, with volunteers from the pop-up café team offering lots of home made sweet and savoury treats as well as hot and cold drinks.

The concert will begin promptly at 1pm. Admission is free, but those who are able to afford it are asked to make a donation. The suggested amount is £5.

James Bowstead will be returning to St John's for a lunchtime organ concert on 26th July, as part of our summer season of lunchtime concerts.

Programme:

Comfort Ye & Ev'ry Valley (Messiah) - George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön (Die Zauberflöte) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Nessun Dorma (Turandot) - Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924)

Marechiare (Canto Napoletano) - Paolo Tosti (1846 - 1916)
La Danza (Soirées musicales) - Gioachino Rossini (1792 - 1868)
Caro Mio Ben - Tommaso Giordani (1730 - 1806)

The British Grenadiers - trad
Salley Gardens - trad
Shenandoah - trad
Danny Boy - trad

About Chris Why:

Chris is a freelance tenor based in West Yorkshire and currently studies with
Paul Nilon. He began his musical training as a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral and has served as a Lay Clerk at both Wakefield and Manchester Cathedrals. He has a First-class degree in music from the University of Sheffield. Subsequently, being awarded the Mrs Stewart Blake recital prize in his final year and the Young Singers Bursary with professional ensemble Stile Antico.
He currently performs nationally on the oratorio and recital stages. Recent
highlights include Schumann Dichterliebe, Bach Johannes-Passion (St Mary
Redcliffe), Verdi Requiem (Bath Bach Choir), Britten Saint Nicolas (East Riding
County Choir), Handel Messiah (Salford Choral Society), and singing for Leeds
Rhinos Rugby Club. Alongside this, Chris teaches singing privately and at
Gateways Independent School in Harewood, Leeds.

About James Bowstead:

James Bowstead is Assistant Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral, where he plays the organ or directs the choir for the daily services and contributes to the training and rehearsal of the boy and girl choristers. He was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School and Jesus College, Oxford, where he was the Senior Organ Scholar, responsible for directing the voluntary choir, with whom he toured to Cologne, Bratislava, Vienna, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Whilst at Oxford he studied organ with Steven Grahl and choral conducting with Paul Spicer. He graduated in 2015, following which he worked as Organist in Residence at Pangbourne College in Berkshire and Organ Scholar at All Saints Church, Fulham, home to one of the best amateur church choirs in the country, and then as Organ Scholar at Peterborough Cathedral (after an audition on the St John's organ!)

He gained his FRCO in Winter 2018 and has given recitals at Jesus and Exeter Colleges, Oxford, at the 2015 Three Choirs Festival in Hereford, and as part of the inaugural recital series on the newly-restored organ at the Moot Hall in Colchester. He is also a composer and arranger, having had works recorded by the Choir of Jesus College, Oxford for Regent, published by Novello and performed in the presence of HRH the Prince of Wales.