Ryton Chorale’s Summer Concert will be on Saturday July 8th in St  Mary’s Church, Tickhill  DN11 9LY starting at 7.30pm. 
Following the very successful performance of Messiah earlier in the year, Nicholas Thorpe will again be the conductor for this concert.  The programme includes the ever popular Zadok the Priest, sung at the King’s coronation and The Sprig of Thyme, a cycle of Folk Songs arranged by John Rutter. 
​Retford U3A Recorder Ensemble and Friends will be making their first appearance with the choir and playing a variety of music to include Greensleeves and Pastime with Good Company. 

Tickets are £11 in advance, £11.50 posted, and £13 on the door.  Accompanied children under 16 are free of charge.  Tickets are available from choir members, telesales on 01909 476402 or online at www.rytonchorale.org.uk   This will be a lighter music concert for a summer evening

​The end of the Spring term saw the culmination of the choir’s rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah on March 25th at The Crossing. 

​Under the direction of Nicholas Thorpe it was an exhilarating performance with very accomplished soloists from Leeds, London and Cheshire – Charlotte Woodhead, alto, Alex Kirkland, tenor, William Kyle, bass and Sarah Helsby Hughes, soprano, who stepped in at very short notice.  Organist Jack Pickford from Chesterfield  and English Pro Musica, the orchestra in residence at Nottingham Trent University, provided the excellent accompaniment. 
There was a standing ovation at the end of the performance.  The alto soloist said that Ryton Chorale sang with great energy and made the music really exciting.  A new choir member said how fantastic it had been to be part of such a wonderful choir, and a member of the audience was full of praise for the professionalism of the choir, the Musical Director, the soloists and the orchestra.
 
The following week the choir sang Stainer’s Crucifixion at Christ Church for the evening service. 
An appreciative congregation, as well as the choir, found it a moving experience that was enhanced by the baritone, and former Ryton Chorale conductor, David Wynne and tenor Edward Harrisson.  The organist was Jack Pickford.
 
The choir’s Summer Concert will be on July 8th in St Mary’s Church, Tickhill at 7.30pm.  

The Crossing in Worksop was the venue for the magnificent and very popular choral work by Handel.

Ryton Chorale was proud to be able to present this work under the leadership of Nicholas Thorpe, who has directed the choir since the beginning of 2023.
The choir, of more than 50, were very ably supported by the English Pro Musical Chamber Orchestra, a professional orchestra based in central England who perform in a variety of ensembles from chamber groups to full symphony orchestra and have performed often with Ryton Chorale
They were led by Melissa Woodhead, with Kieron James O'Brien on the trumpet. The organist was Jack Pickford, who has also been helping the choir at rehearsal as their accompanist.

The soloists – soprano Sarah Helsby-Hughes, who stepped into the role at the last minute due to sickness, alto Charlotte Woodhead, tenor Alex Kirkland and bass William Kyle – were all wonderful and left a near-capacity audience absolutely delighted with the whole experience. A well-deserved standing ovation was given.

Members of the choir would like to thank everyone for their hard work which is highly appreciated, and are looking forward to future concerts.

​worksopguardian.co.uk/news/ryton-chorale-present-handels-messiah-4081808  27/03/2023

The 40th year began with a special Anniversary Concert in The Crossing Church and Centre.  The Chorale enjoys the privilege of having two active Presidents – Benjamin Frith, the international concert pianist and Martin Ellerby who composed a celebratory work, Mass of the Winged Lion, specially for the occasion.
Martin said “The intention of the work was to create a choral piece performable by good amateur choirs over an enhanced standard Latin Mass text, all broken down into a total of ten movements played at times with and without breaks. 
The title, Mass of the Winged Lion, derives from the symbol of Mark the Evangelist whose remains were returned from Alexandria and interred in the Basilica of St Mark in Venice.  A fifteen foot bonze statue of a winged lion stands at the top of a granite column in St Mark’s Square, Venice.
The St Mark angle also allows for a few poetic licences to be included at times, reflections or comments in the form of choral hymns, instrumental interludes, the Lord’s Prayer sung, and a recited poem, written by Lord Byron.  These, hopefully, enhance the traditional structure and personalise it for performers and audience alike.”
Conducted by Simon Lumby, the choir gave an exhilarating performance of the new music, which had been much enjoyed in rehearsal.  The complex instrumental interludes were wonderfully executed by Benjamin Frith and Heidi Rolfe on the piano and by the English Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra.  Tom Corfield accompanied on the organ. This first performance was enthusiastically received by the audience.
The other items on the programme were Parry’s I was Glad and The Music Makers by Elgar with mezzo-soprano Catherine Griffiths.
The premiere of the Ellerby work was a fitting start to Ryton Chorale’s 40th year.  

The concert takes place on Monday (15th December) at 7.30pm and features festive music and carols. 
These will include well-known carols, sung by the choir, and audience readings, and Christmas music from both the choir and the brass band.
worksopguardian.co.uk/arts-and-culture/worksop-ryton-chorale-and-welbeck-band-to-present-a-christmas-concert-at-st-annes-2253185

For The Fallen is a famous war poem, written in 1914 by Robert Laurence Binyon from which the Ode to Remembrance is taken.
The Ryton Chorale’s concert will include Elgar’s ‘Spirit of England’ and ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams.“
This program has been presented by many choirs across the country during 2014,” said committee member Elizabeth Evans. 
“And now there is the chance for local people to hear this beautiful music in Worksop.”
worksopguardian.co.uk/arts-and-culture/remember-the-fallen-in-music-2260422

The musicians and singers joined together in memory of former Musical Director Anthony Morgan, who sadly passed away earlier this year. 
Guest conductor Roger Bryan took up the baton to lead the concert in a rousing and emotional evening’s entertainment for audience and performers alike. 

A renowned choir trainer, Bryan expertly led exacting yet fruitful rehearsals from September to bring the best out of Ryton Chorale. 
Several members of the choir, which performs the Messiah regularly, said that it was the best performance of the Messiah they have ever given - a fitting tribute to much-missed maestro Tony Morgan.
Soloists were Clare Robertson (soprano), Annette Wood (alto), Philip Leech (tenor) and David Woodhouse (bass), accompanied by the English Pro Musica Chamber Ensemble and Michael Overbury on Harpsichord Continuo.
The familiar Hallelujah Chorus was sung enthusiastically by the choir, joined in the usual places by an audience encouraged to their feet by conductor Roger Bryan, and ended with a terrific round of applause from the audience and satisfied smiles on the faces of choir members.

Ryton Chorale also showed that theirs is a Messiah full of subtlety and contrasts, with some very intensely focussed and atmospheric singing where the dynamics required it. 
The concert was an emotional experience for the late Tony Morgan’s family, with Caroline Morgan telling one choir member that ‘Tony would have been proud of you all’. 
Ryton Chorale now begin an exciting new chapter in their 30 year history with the appointment of new Musical Director Mark McCombs. 
He will be taking the helm for the choir’s next concert in conjunction with Whitwell Brass Band, at Retford Town Hall on Friday 30th November. 

You can also hear Ryton Chorale in their annual Christmas concert, complete with festive readings and seasonal refreshments, at St Anne’s Church in Worksop on Monday 17th December. 
Tickets for the St Ann’s Church concert are £8 each with children and young people admitted free of charge. 
For more information about Ryton Chorale and upcoming shows, or to get involved yourself, visit their website at www.rytonchorale.org.uk
worksopguardian.co.uk/arts-and-culture/ryton-chorale-messiah-show-2722960

Anthony Morgan, or Tony to his friends, was the music director of Ryton Chorale for over 20 years. 
He died aged 64-years-old. 
Having worked with a number of major orchestras, Tony was renowned for having ‘an incredible influence’ on the Chorale over many years.

“It is with great sadness choir members learned of the sudden death of their Anthony Morgan,” said Joan Simpson, speaking on behalf of Ryton Chorale. “He will be greatly missed.”
“Tony, a professional musician, had committed much of his time and talent to encouraging choral singers of all abilities in Bassetlaw, during regular rehearsals and an annual one-day workshop, to give of their best in public performances in Worksop and Retford areas, as well as on the continent with our twinned towns of Pfungstadt and Aurillac.” 
She continued: “He was especially responsible for engaging the high calibre orchestras which performed at Ryton Chorale’s concerts on many occasions.” Joan added: “The condolences of all Ryton Chorale members are given to Tony’s family at this sad time.” 

Rehearsals will continue under Pamela Mallender’s leadership until a new director is appointed.
worksopguardian.co.uk/news/tributes-paid-to-local-music-man-2751308 

The new name was chosen by YOU after hundreds of Worksop Guardian readers had their say and voted. 
The final shortlist of names was: Mercian Square, Old Market Square and Jubilee Square.
The name was unveiled at a special May Day Festival by Coun David Pressley, cabinet member for community projects, at the £500,000 square - designed to be a modern and simple community area to compliment the new cinema.

The festival saw a variety of fun and activities, including performances from the Worksop Miners Welfare Brass Band, Lion and Dragon Dancing, Ryton Chorale performance, Outwood Academy School Choir and much more.

There was also stilt walkers, facepainting, a bouncy castle, inflatable assault course and a food market.
worksopguardian.co.uk/news/civic-square-officially-opens-as-old-market-square-2756324