Choristers and Caterers Make a Perfect Partnership of Music and Food.

Published: 04 August 2011

The Choristers of Manchester Cathedral Choir, under the direction of the Organist & Master of the Choristers, Christopher Stokes, teamed up with the caterers of Harvey Nichols to provide a sparkling evening of entertainment at the Cathedral’s annual Summer Cheese & Wine Evening earlier this month.

In what proved to be a perfect partnership, the Harvey Nichols’ team moved into the nave of the Cathedral to transform it into a stylish ‘brasserie’ for the evening and, with unstinting generosity, provided a gourmet spread of cheeses, cold meats, olives and chutneys accompanied by fine wines.

The Choristers (girls and boys aged 8-13 years old) enthralled almost 100 guests with a programme of delightful musical entertainment, singing together and performing individually – many of these talented singers, who all study at Chetham’s School of Music, are also accomplished instrumentalists.  The audience enjoyed a brilliant arrangement for choir of GF Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’, and instrumental and vocal items from a wide range of composers, including Saint-Saëns, Elgar, Franz Strauss and Michael Head to Flanders & Swan’s Hippopotamus Song! 

The event was also supported by the Ida Carroll Trust and the Douglas Steele Foundation, and the guests were generous in showing their appreciation for the high calibre of the entertainment and the catering. Thanks to all the supporters, the evening raised over £1,000 for Choir funds which enable Manchester Cathedral Choir to perform concerts, make CDs and to tour in the UK and abroad.

Christopher Stokes commented: “We are immensely grateful to all who supported this wonderful evening. The quality of Harvey Nichols’ catering reflected perfectly the quality of performance that we all expect from our Choristers. This was a marvellous celebration to mark the end of another busy year for the Cathedral Choir.”

Among the comments from guests were:

“Did enjoy last night at the Cathedral: excellent concert with such talented kids, and Harvey Nichols provided an outstanding buffet.
Many thanks to all concerned.” R Walker, Director, Victorian Opera Northwest

“What a fantastic evening! Wonderful music and absolutely fabulous spread!”  S Bevan, Director, Winter Hill Wines.

Manchester Cathedral Choir holds a number of events throughout the year. If you would like to hear about such events, including next year’s Cheese & Wine Evening, please send your email address to Katy Leese, Worship and Music Administrator.

 

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