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Appointment of Benedict Collins Rice as new Musical Director and Conductor of Eye Bach Choir
Eye Bach Choir is delighted to have appointed Benedict Collins Rice as its new MD and Conductor from January 2025.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Benedict and his career
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE BELOW POSITION HAS NOW EXPIRED
Musical Director
Eye Bach Choir (EBC) is looking to appoint a new Musical Director to succeed Leslie Olive who has announced his intention to step back from the Choir at Christmas after 18 successful years.
EBC is a friendly auditioned SATB choir of about 50 members, drawn from across the region. Our members cover a wide age range and musical abilities and have diverse interests and backgrounds. Since its formation in 1974 the Choir has built up an excellent reputation and has a strong following in the local area. EBC performs three concerts each season with professional soloists accompanied by a professional organist or pianist and, for one concert each season, an orchestra.
Concerts usually take place in Eye Parish Church or Eye Town Hall although the Choir has performed at Snape Maltings, St Edmundsbury Cathedral and elsewhere in East Anglia. The repertoire covers works from the 16th to 21st century. Each December the Choir also hosts a very popular festive concert accompanied by a local silver band.
The Choir rehearses on Friday evenings between September and May at Eye Town Hall between 7:30 and 9:30, with an excellent professional accompanist.
Application closing date: 16/9/24
Open Rehearsal - Heritage Open Days
- Fri 13th Sep '24, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
- Eye Town Hall, Eye, Suffolk
- FREE
- No booking required
Eye Bach Choir is once again delighted to be participating in Heritage Open Days which see events taking place across the country during the week Sep 6th-15th. We are also grateful to be supported by Eye Town Council as part of its’ organisation of the regional events for Heritage Open Days.
Members of the public are warmly invited to drop in to observe whilst we rehearsed with our Musical Director Leslie Olive and piano accompanist Karen Smith. The focus will be on works being performed for our Nov 16th opening season concert taking place at Eye Town Hall.
End of 50th anniversary season garden party. July '24
Choir members gathered to bid a final farewell to the 50th anniversary season at a party hosted by Biddy and her husband Jonathan from their home in Eye. It’s also the house from where Biddys parents founded Eye Bach Choir – a gaggle of sopranos were snapped, crowded on the stairs – recreating the scene from the very first evening members met back in 1974.
The party was blessed with beautiful bright weather and a jolly atmosphere helped along by a couple of sing-a-longs – voices having been lubricated by a drop or two of bubbly. It was a lovely send off to this special season for EBC.
Come and Sing Workshop
- Sat 27th Jan, '24, 2.00pm - 5.15pm
- The Lines Hall, Hartismere School, Castleton Way, Eye, IP23 7BL
- £5. Free for EBC members and for staff and pupils of Hartismere School
- EVENT NOW CLOSED
All keen singers are welcome to join this professionally led come-and-sing workshop which will focus on learning technical aspects of selected choruses from Haydn Nelson Mass and Mozart Solemn Vespers K339.
The workshop is conducted by Leslie Olive who is the Conductor and Musical Director of Eye Bach Choir as well as The English Arts Chorale, St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir and Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tea will be served at 4:00pm and family and friends are welcome to observe the choir at work from 4:30pm
Open Rehearsal - Heritage Open Days
- Fri 15th Sep '23, 7.45am - 9.45pm
- Eye Town Hall, Suffolk
- FREE
- EVENT NOW CLOSED
Coinciding with the start of our 50th anniversary season, Eye Bach Choir has been especially pleased to participate in Heritage Open Days this year which saw events taking place across the country during the week Sep 8th-17th. We were also grateful to be supported by Eye Town Council as part of its’ organisation of the regional events for Heritage Open Days.
Members of the were warmly invited to drop in for a while or observe the whole session whilst we rehearsed with our Musical Director Leslie Olive and piano accompanist Karen Smith. The focus was on Vivaldi Gloria – the feature work being performed for our Nov 11th opening season concert.
Performing at The Michael Burke Wellbeing Centre opening launch, Jul '23
The Choir was delighted to help the centre celebrate its reopening after a brand new refurbishment. Warm and inviting, the comfortable facility will regularly host a range of local community support groups and activities.
During this lovely afternoon event we performed a small selection of songs from the choir’s repertoire and got the chance to meet some of the organisers, friends and clients of the centre. We were treated to tasty refreshments provided by volunteers and the mobile charity – The Rural Coffee Caravan.
Garden Party 50th Anniversary Fundraiser Jul '23
Kindly hosted by our esteemed Chair Felicity, this successful evening raised over £250 towards the choir’s 50th anniversary season.
We were entertained by the melodic sounds of local duo Downtown Jazz on strings and horn and a sumptuous spread of tasty morsels made for a very satisfying evening indeed. Lucky raffle winners had an extra bit of icing on the cake.
Thanks to everyone who took part in this great fundraising event.
Supper & Auction of Promises
- Sat 22nd Apr, 7pm
- Eye Town Hall, Suffolk
- £20 inc two course meal
Attendees of this hugely successful 50th anniversary fundraiser were treated to a delicious two course meal hand-prepared by local gourmet caterers, The Coconut Monkey.
Everyone joined in the fun bidding on exciting and unusual lots which included a mystery tour in a vintage car, a private flying session, arts and craft items and much more….
Voice Wise With Lisa Cassidy - Mar '23
A fantastic session with Lisa Cassidy last Saturday. The group, made up of choir members and guests, were coached in some of Lisa’s creative vocal techniques to help improve confidence, breath, tone, and general quality of sound. So clever. Simple but effective ways to tap into hidden depths of vocal capability. We all left full of enthusiasm to continue developing our own personal voices as well as our contribution to Eye Bach Choir. Lisa makes improvement seem so achievable. Truly inspiring!
For more on Lisa’s unique singing workshops including her Sing Kaizen online series Click Here
Previous Concerts 2018 / 2019 Season
2018/2019 Season Saturday 24th November 2018, Eye Parish Church All Night Vigil – Vespers (Rachmaninov), Russian Folksongs and wonderful Individual Performances by Musica Lyra Friday 14th December 2018, Eye Town Hall A Christmas Fanfare! with Castelton Brass Saturday 16th March 2019, Eye Parish Church Elijah (Mendelssohn) Accompanied by Kingfisher Sinfonietta Saturday 18th May 2019, Eye Town Hall Shining Lights – A Concert featuring music by Living Composers 2017/2018 Season Saturday 25th November 2017, Eye Parish Church Gloria (Vivaldi); Magnificat and Cantata Gloria in Excelsis Deo (JS Bach) Friday 15th December 2017, Eye Town Hall The Glory of Christmas with Castleton Brass Saturday 10th March 2018, Eye Parish Church Gloria – Gloria (Poulenc) and Messa di Gloria (Puccini) Saturday 19th May 2018, Diss Cornhall Spirituals from A Child of Our Time (Tippett), and Zimbe (L’Estrange) along with Children’s Choirs from the Eye and Diss areas 2016/2017 Season Saturday 26th November 2016, Eye Parish Church Requiems (Durufle and Faure) Friday 16th December 2016, Eye Town Hall Another Merry Little Christmas with Castleton Brass Saturday 11th March 2017, Eye Parish Church The Creation (Haydn) Saturday 20th May 2017, Eye Parish Church Sound the Trumpet with Crispian Steele-Perkins. A collection of choral and trumpet inspired pieces 2015/2016 Season Saturday 28th November 2015, Eye Parish Church ‘Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose with composer Alexander L’Estrange’s own band and local Primary School children. Sea Songs (Edward Elgar) Friday 18th December 2015, Eye Town Hall Another Merry Little Christmas with Castleton Brass Saturday 12th March 2016, Eye Parish Church Requiem (Brahms) and Lux Aeterna (Lauridsen) Saturday 21st May 2016, Eye Town Hall Credo, Magnificat & Cello Concerto in G Minor (Vivaldi); Stabat Mater (Pergolesi); Divertimento in D Major (Mozart) 2014/2015 Season Saturday 29th November 2014, Eye Parish Church Petite Messe Solennelle (Rossini) Friday 19th December 2014, Eye Town Hall A Celebration of Christmas with Castleton Brass Friday 7th March 2015, Eye Parish Church St John Passion (JS Bach) Saturday 15th May 2015, Eye Town Hall Mass in Blue (Will Todd), Songs from Gershwin & Solo jazz items 2013/2014 Season Saturday 7th December 2013, Eye Parish Church Settings of the Magnificat including a Gregorian Chant by Palestrina, Dyson, Stanford, Olive and Rutter Saturday 8th March 2014, Eye Parish Church 40th Anniversary Concert Judas Maccabeus Excerpts (Handel); Occasional Oratorio Excerpts (Handel); Jesu, Priceless Treasure (Bach); Look to the Day (Rutter); Dixit Dominus (Handel) Saturday 17th May 2014, Eye Town Hall Solemn Vespers K339 (Mozart); Horn Concerto in E Flat (Mozart); Nelson Mass (Haydn) 2012/2013 Season Saturday 24th November 2012, Eye Parish Church Psalm 115 (Mendelssohn); Psalm 95 (Come Let Us Sing) (Mendelssohn); War March of the Priests (Mendelssohn); Mass in D Major (Dvorak) Saturday 16th March 2013, Eye Parish Church Mass in B Minor (J S Bach) Saturday 18th May 2013, Eye Parish Church Zadok The Priest (Handel); Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart); Clarinet Concerto (Mozart); Coronation Mass (Mozart) 2011/2012 Season Saturday 26th November 2011, Eye Parish Church Magnificat (J S Bach); Trumpet Concerto (Haydn); St Nicholas Mass (Haydn) Saturday 17th March 2012, Eye Parish Church Mass in A Flat (Schubert); Magnificat (Pergolesi); Magnificat (Vivaldi) Saturday 19th May 2012, Eye Parish Church Lieberslieder Waltzes (Brahms); Lux Aeterna (Lauridsen); Four Toasts (Rutherford) 2010/2011 Season Saturday 27th November 2010, Eye Parish Church Requiem (Durufle); Requiem (Faure) Saturday 19th March 2011, Eye Parish Church Exultate Jubilate (Mozart); Mass in C Minor (Mozart); Te Deum (Haydn) Saturday 11th June 2011, Eye Parish Church Gloriana Dances (Britten); Two Rhapsodies (Brahms); Four Toasts (premiere) (Rutherford); Look To The Day (Rutter); Song Medley (Gershwin); Porgy and Bess (selection) (Gershwin)
EBC Choir members join The Suffolk Philharmonic for a concert for Armed Forces Day The Apex
The picture shows Leslie Olive, Conductor of The Suffolk Philharmonic (as well as Eye Bach Choir) conducting a rehearsal in the afternoon of the concert with the orchestral players at the point that the large combined choir (including many EBC members) had just left the stage for a break! The concert took the form of a ‘Last Night at the Proms’ including a range of orchestral pieces such as Dambusters (paying homage to the RAF 100th anniversary too) and for the combined choir and orchestra, the Handel Hallelujah Chorus, Hubert Parry’s I was Glad, and Carl Orff’s O Fortuna. Accompanied by a lot of flag waving and encore the concert was rounded off by a very rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory!
Previous Concerts 2019 / 2020 Season
2019/2020 Season Saturday 9th November 2019, Eye Parish Church Kings and Queens, Music from Royal Occasions including I Was Glad (Parry), Missa Brevis (Haydn), Te Deum (Stanford), Te Deum (Haydn), The Coronation Anthems (Handel). Accompanied by Alex Binns (Organ) and Jane Burnell (Soprano) with an Individual Performance by Jane of Two Arias from Julius Caesar (Handel) Other musical concerts in this Season were cancelled due to the Covid 19 outbreak.
Previous Concerts 2017 / 2018 Season
2017/2018 Season Saturday 25th November 2017, Eye Parish Church Gloria (Vivaldi); Magnificat and Cantata Gloria in Excelsis Deo (JS Bach) Friday 15th December 2017, Eye Town Hall The Glory of Christmas with Castleton Brass Saturday 10th March 2018, Eye Parish Church Gloria – Gloria (Poulenc) and Messa di Gloria (Puccini) Saturday 19th May 2018, Diss Cornhall Spirituals from A Child of Our Time (Tippett), and Zimbe (L’Estrange) along with Children’s Choirs from the Eye and Diss areas
Previous Concerts 2016 / 2017 Season
2016/2017 Season Saturday 26th November 2016, Eye Parish Church Requiems (Durufle and Faure) Friday 16th December 2016, Eye Town Hall Another Merry Little Christmas with Castleton Brass Saturday 11th March 2017, Eye Parish Church The Creation (Haydn) Saturday 20th May 2017, Eye Parish Church Sound the Trumpet with Crispian Steele-Perkins. A collection of choral and trumpet inspired pieces
Previous Concerts 2015 / 2016 Season
2015/2016 Season Saturday 28th November 2015, Eye Parish Church ‘Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose with composer Alexander L’Estrange’s own band and local Primary School children. Sea Songs (Edward Elgar) Friday 18th December 2015, Eye Town Hall Another Merry Little Christmas with Castleton Brass Saturday 12th March 2016, Eye Parish Church Requiem (Brahms) and Lux Aeterna (Lauridsen) Saturday 21st May 2016, Eye Town Hall Credo, Magnificat & Cello Concerto in G Minor (Vivaldi); Stabat Mater (Pergolesi); Divertimento in D Major (Mozart)