Autumn ART & Craft Fair
4.10.2023
We are hosting our first fundraising Autumn Art & Craft Fair on Saturday 21st October at Wadsley Church Hall, Worrall Road, Sheffield S6 4BB from 11am to 4pm
There will be a wide range of stalls, with excellent local artists and crafters selling their fantastic creations with stall holders selling their wares including
woodturning, stained glass art, painting, jewellery, candles, fabric creations & paper art.
October 21st will definitely be a good day to start your Christmas shopping!
After browsing the stalls you'll be able to have a homemade cake and a cup of tea or coffee in the café area where you can also visit our plant and book stalls.
Hope to see you there!
Intrepid Hikers Hit the Heights
19.7.2023
Our Musical Director, Alan Eost and one of our singers, Michaela have successfully conquered Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. In doing so they have raised a significant amount for Sheffield Oratorio Chorus having received almost £2,500 in sponsorship at the time of writing.
Commenting on the hike Alan said:
This was a very long and arduous walk but in almost perfect walking weather. There was some low cloud in the morning which came and went. The scenery was just magnificent.
To assist the climb I had YouTube recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto (the one used in "Brief Encounter"), Janet Baker singing Elgar's Sea Pictures and Beethoven's 3rd sonata for cello and piano. At the great climax of the Rachmaninov the clouds suddenly parted to reveal a stunning view of Loch Linnhe, Loch Eil, the Channel between them, Fort William and the mountains beyond. How fortunate we are to live in a country with such natural and beautiful scenery.
Alan Eost at the summit of Ben Nevis
The hike took place on 18th July and was the latest in a number of ascents that Alan has made to raise funds for SOC. Previous efforts have included climbs of Snowdon and Scafell Pike, the highest mountains in Wales and England as well as a previous climb of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain.
Donations can be made via the team’s just giving page.
2023/24 SEASON ANNOUNCED
4.7.2023
Our 2023/24 Season has been announced and promises some exciting music to come.
The season starts with a concert of Mozart and Haydn on Saturday 25th November at Ecclesall Parish Church.
Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass’ is one of his most popular choral works combining grand choruses with more tender melodic music for the four solo parts. We will be joined by the South Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra for this performance with soloists to be announced. Accompanying the ‘Coronation Mass’ will be a second piece by Mozart, his ever popular ‘Vespers’ which includes the beautifully lyrical ‘Laudate Dominum’ duet between solo soprano and chorus. The concert will also include Haydn’s ‘Little Organ Mass’.
On Thursday 21st December we will have our annual Christmas Carol Concert when we will have the pleasure of being joined by the Steel City Choristers.
We will be returning to Sheffield Cathedral on Saturday 9th March 2024 for a concert of 20th Century choral pieces. John Rutter’s ‘Requiem’ combines the latin requiem mass with choral settings Psalms 130 (‘Out of the Deep’) and 23 (‘The Lord is my Shepherd’). This will be joined by Christopher Le Fleming’s ‘Five Psalms’.
The highlight of the season will undoubtedly be a performance of the Brahms ‘Requiem’ in conjunction with the Sheffield Bach Society on Saturday 29th June 2024 at the Victorial Hall when we will be delighted to be joined by international soloist Elizabeth Watts.
Tickets for our concerts will be on sale soon (see our ‘Concerts’ page) and we welcome new members to join us. If you would like to support our music making please see our patrons scheme.
WILL TODD to join us for ‘MASS in BLue’
12.4.2023
We are delighted that we will be joined by composer, Will Todd to conduct his ‘Mass in Blue’ along with the Will Todd Trio and soloist Bethany Halliday on Saturday 1st July.
The concert, which will be performed jointly with Sheffield Chamber Choir, will also feature a performance of Bob Chilcott’s ‘Nideros Jazz Mass’ and Frank Martin’s Mass.
We are inviting guest singers to join us to rehearse and perform in the concert with rehearsals taking place on Wednesday evenings between April and the end of June - more details
Will Todd will also be coming to Sheffield on Saturday 10th June to lead a day long workshop on his ‘Mass in Blue’ which will also be open to guest singers - more details
SING WITH US
3.11.2022
BACH - ST JOHN PASSION
We invite you to join us to rehearse and sing Bach St. John Passion with the Northern Chamber Orchestra and six of the country’s most highly regarded young soloists.
Concert 1st April 2023 in Sheffield Cathedral
The fee for singing in all rehearsals and concert is £25, including music (if required).
Previous choral experience is useful.
For more information, including rehearsal schedule and to download an application form click here
We’re Hiring
25.5.2022
Marketing & Audience Development Project
SELF-EMPLOYED CONTRACT
Sheffield Oratorio Chorus seeks to rebuild its chorus after the pandemic lockdown.
• SOC wants to find innovative ways of recruiting new members
• SOC wishes to review and take forward the organisation of its marketing and audience development strategies.
We wish to engage an individual on a self employed contract, specifically to research and work with our committee on efficient management of:
• SOC’s presence on social media including our own website
• Preparation and distribution of our press releases
• Preparation and distribution of our marketing and publicity material
• New member recruitment and retention
• Ways of attracting new audiences/increasing audience numbers
• Ways of attracting advertising income
Self-employed contract
The contract is initially for 6 months and a maximum of 100 hours. Weekly working hours will be negotiated with the project manager/s. The hourly rate will be £15-£20 per hour depending on experience. The contract may be extended further at the discretion of SOC committee.
Supervision of the project
• Progress will be reviewed regularly by the committee member/s designated as project manager/s.
• Attendance at SOC committee or sub-committee meetings may be required.
• At the end of the contract, a report on the progress achieved will be presented by the person who has conducted the review to SOC committee.
Application process
• Applicants should send a brief CV including the name of one referee to the SOC Hon. Secretary Janet Smith by e-mail at janet@eatonfold.co.uk
• They should indicate the date when they might be able to begin work.
• The closing date for applications is 15.6.2022. Applicants will be notified by e-mail if they have been shortlisted by 23.6.2022