Delight for new director of group

New music director Márcio da Silva is delighted with the first rehearsal he has held in his new position with Billingshurst Choral Society.

Together he and the singers are now counting down to their first concert together in November.

“The first rehearsal went really, really well,” Márcio said.

“This is the tenth choir I have conducted, but as I told them, I have not started conducting a new choir for the past nine years.

“I am originally from Brazil and I have lived in France and Germany and conducted choirs in both places. I have been in the UK for ten years (where he is artistic director and principal conductor of Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and also Hastings Philharmonic Choir).

“And I think with experience you start to try to understand people and to try to read the room, but obviously I think it can take a little while, but the chairman of Billingshurst Choral Society Keith Paul joined Hastings Philharmonic Choir eight years ago, which I conduct. He has been doing three hours in a car just to come to rehearsals, and he is the person who brought me over here, and I must say that I am really impressed with the way the choir reacted to the changes.

“Usually with choirs they are used to doing things in a certain way, and it can be a bit traumatic when things change. I told them that it would take time for us to get to know each other, but I can see that their interest is very much in getting better and in doing better concerts.”

Their next concert will be on November 20 at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Billingshurst when the programmewillbe:Raminsh – Missa Brevis; Faure – Cantique de Jean Racine; and Faure – Requiem.