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A new MD for Cantiones
The choir announces the appointment of its new Musical Director, Tony Coupe. 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’.
At Ellesmere College Tony has developed music to the highest standard, embedding the skills and work ethic that he benefitted from as a child. He believes that music should be daring, challenging and fun, and encourages fellow musicians to focus on the given moment.
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A sad Farewell to John Moore
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The choir is sad to announce the untimely and tragic death of long-time member and former Chairman, John Moore. John was part of the fabric not only of Cantiones’ life, having been Chairman for 25 years, but also the musical life of Oswestry in general, having also been a member of St Oswald’s Church Choir for16 years. We all remember his fabulous tenor voice within the choir and for many years also taking tenor solo roles. Members of the choir felt privileged to join St Oswald’s Church Choir for John’s funeral service at the church. Cantiones sends their heartfelt condolences to John’s wife Denise and wider family. The picture shows John singing in Cae Glas Park with the choir in lockdown.Here is a biography, written in the third person, but actually by John himself.
READ IT HERE
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Goodbye to Martin BusseyThe choir’s Christmas concert in December 2024 was the last concert under the baton of its Musical Director for 5 years, Martin Bussey. He will be very much missed.
Martin is a distinguished musician, teacher and composer and Cantiones has been lucky to have had him at the helm since 2020. Of course very early in his tenure we all had to deal with lockdown and the implications for a social group such as a choir.
Martin threw himself into solving the various difficulties firstly with weekly zoom rehearsals and then leading us face-to-face (distanced and with masks!) in a field and a car park as well as a concert in the bandstand at Cae Glas Park. Gradually over the months rehearsals returned to normal but Cantiones only survived the pandemic with Martin’s hard work.
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Martin's CD (from Facebook)
Our MD Martin Bussey’s CD, ‘A Brother Abroad’
was released on the 13th December.
Available online from 'Resonus'
