NEWS

Benedict Collins Rice appointed as EBC new Musical Director and Conductor

Eye Bach Choir is delighted to have appointed Benedict Collins Rice to be its new Musical Director and Conductor from January 2025 – a significant and exciting change following 17 years under its previous MD, Leslie Olive.

CLICK HERE to read 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

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.

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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

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

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.

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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.

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Supper & Auction of Promises

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….

See the full lot list here

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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