Ambitious new departure for Rolleston Choral Society

Rolleston’s celebrated choir spreads its wings wider in June, with what’s thought to be the first concert in many a year in the area to feature an instrumental concerto with orchestra and soloist. Sarah Vernon, who’s just 23, will perform Mendelssohn’s much-loved Violin Concerto in E minor. It will be the centrepiece of an ambitious programme to be given by the choir and orchestra on Saturday 7 June, in Tutbury Church. The other works will be Handel’s Utrecht Jubilate, Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine and one of Beethoven’s greatest choral pieces, the Mass in C major.

Sarah, who lives in Linton, is a past pupil of Abbot Beyne School in Winshill, and is no stranger to performance. She’s already given solo recitals at The Brewhouse in Burton and in Durham, where’s she’s just completed a degree in Music and German. But she admits that the Mendelssohn concerto poses a big challenge. “It’s quite difficult in many places,” she says. “There are several virtuoso passages that need good technique and a cool head. Another problem is that most people in the audience will know the music, so it’s important to get it right!”

Her difficulties should be eased by the presence of her dad Peter Vernon on the conductor’s rostrum. “I trust him completely,” she says. “We’ve played it many times through with him at the piano, and although this will be my first time with an orchestra, I think we’ll have a good rapport.” Peter, who teaches music at Sarah’s old school, says the concert could well represent a “first” for Burton. “I think it’s the first time in many, many years that the town’s seen an orchestral concert with a solo instrumentalist. It’s certainly a new departure for the choir.”

The concert takes place at 7.30 pm on Saturday, 7th June, at the Priory Church of St.Mary, Tutbury. Tickets at £7 and £5 are on sale now from Starbucks’ newsagents in Rolleston, on the night at the door, or from Jane Fisher on Burton 815339. 

40th anniversary

Preparations are already well in hand for events and concerts to celebrate the choir’s 40th anniversary next year. In March it’ll perform Handel’s Messiah – the work it gave at its inaugural concert in 1964. And next July, it’ll be one of four choirs – including singers from Germany – who’ll help celebrate the 21st anniversary of Burton’s twinning link with Lingen in a major music festival. 

Further details from: Nick Willmot, Publicity Officer, 01283 565992 (home), 01782 208080 (work) or Sarah Vernon: 01283 762127 (home), 07979 541736 (mobile).