As well as being a first Bass, John Thawley is Chairman of the Viva Committee.
"Nearly 20 years ago, I was asked by Viva’s then Director of Music and some Viva singers to help the bass section at a concert with a view to possible longer-term membership. So far, I haven’t managed to escape!
Like many singers of my age, early experiences (from the age of eight) were in church and school choirs where I was introduced to both popular and traditional Anglican church music, something that remains a major interest. When at university, I was fortunate to find St Nicholas Church in Leicester where a fine student choir sang a wide range of music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Another great fortune was to be selected by the University Music Department for free singing lessons, the only consideration for which was to sing in the University’s chamber choir.
Other than Viva, I currently sing in Cantamici, a Leicester-based choir, and in a number of invitation choirs. My musical ‘hobby’ is to sing services in cathedrals with choirs that stand in during school holidays for the resident choir. Since starting with Viva, it has doubled in size having recruited some very accomplished singers, but has never lost the friendly sense of common purpose and community I have so enjoyed over the years. Viva week-ends away have been especially memorable both for the edgy singing in unfamiliar environments and for their social benefit.
Viva concerts are generally thematic, varied stylistically and in period and benefit greatly from Simon Lumby’s thoughtful programming. Our next concert of music ‘inspired by light’ will be in the wonderful Sir George Gilbert Scott St Andrew’s Church in Leicester, which has an excellent acoustic for a cappella singing and will wonderfully showcase Charles Wood’s Hail! Gladdening Light and Sir James MacMillan’s O Radiant Dawn, both of which are great favourites of mine."
Like many singers of my age, early experiences (from the age of eight) were in church and school choirs where I was introduced to both popular and traditional Anglican church music, something that remains a major interest. When at university, I was fortunate to find St Nicholas Church in Leicester where a fine student choir sang a wide range of music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Another great fortune was to be selected by the University Music Department for free singing lessons, the only consideration for which was to sing in the University’s chamber choir.
Other than Viva, I currently sing in Cantamici, a Leicester-based choir, and in a number of invitation choirs. My musical ‘hobby’ is to sing services in cathedrals with choirs that stand in during school holidays for the resident choir. Since starting with Viva, it has doubled in size having recruited some very accomplished singers, but has never lost the friendly sense of common purpose and community I have so enjoyed over the years. Viva week-ends away have been especially memorable both for the edgy singing in unfamiliar environments and for their social benefit.
Viva concerts are generally thematic, varied stylistically and in period and benefit greatly from Simon Lumby’s thoughtful programming. Our next concert of music ‘inspired by light’ will be in the wonderful Sir George Gilbert Scott St Andrew’s Church in Leicester, which has an excellent acoustic for a cappella singing and will wonderfully showcase Charles Wood’s Hail! Gladdening Light and Sir James MacMillan’s O Radiant Dawn, both of which are great favourites of mine."