The Hawkhurst Singers - subsequently renamed The Wealden Consort - a name reflecting the Weald of Kent in the South East of England from which its members are drawn, was formed in 1979 through the inspiration and enthusiasm of the vicar of St Laurence, Hawkhurst. Maisie Hammond, a graduate of the Royal College of Music and a professional violinist took over the leadership of the Consort after about a year. She and her husband John are joining us for this tour.

 

In the early years the group (consisting of about 8 singers) performed mostly motets and madrigals in addition to a rich range of church music. However, with its numbers growing to around twenty, it has added spirituals, folk songs and modern pieces as well as humorous works to its repertoire.

 

Maisie Hammond moved away from Kent in May 2003 and we welcomed Cornelis Taekema who took over the baton. Cornelis is Director of Music at Dulwich Preparatory School at Cranbrook, Kent. The Consort continues to perform wherever groups seek to use its talents to entertain and raise funds for worthy local causes that our membership can relate to.

 

In 2004 we sang at Canterbury Cathedral for two evensongs and have been invited to return again this year. Apart from other concerts held locally, we spent a happy weekend last summer performing at venues in the Bedford/Cambridge area. Another concert arranged at short notice recently helped raise over £1,000 for the Tsunami Appeal.

 

A visit to Mallorca was suggested by one of our members, Peter Hopper, who has a home on the island. Our tour party totalling 32 includes 19 singers plus their families and children. We will be staying at Cala Mesquida near Capdepera and are paying for the cost of the tour ourselves. We are not charging anything for our performances but are doing it entirely for the enjoyment of singing and the entertainment we aim to provide.

 

Concerts are arranged in Capdepera and Puerto Pollensa and we will be singing an anthem or two at the Sunday morning service at the Anglican Church in Palma.

 

Our choral programme will be drawn from compositions by Gabriel Fauré, John Rutter, C V Stanford, Leonard Bernstein, Gershwin and Cornelis Taekema (our Musical Director) and many others and will include Church music, traditional Folk Songs, Classic Popular Songs, Madrigals, Spirituals, an African tribal song and some modern pieces – something for everyone!

 

We must thank Derek & Jenny Crossman for arranging the Capdepera concert and the English Speaking Residents Association for helping promote the concerts. In addition, we wish to express our gratitude to The Revd. Michael Redfearn and the Revd. Robert Ellis of the Anglican Church in Mallorca for arranging the venues in Puerto Pollensa & Palma.

 

Tickets for the evening concerts can be purchased at the door. The proceeds will be going towards local charitable causes.

We very much look forward to meeting you.

 

Wealden Consort