The Exon Singers 57th Summer Festival

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The Exon Singers are returning to Tavistock for their 57th Summer Festival with an exciting programme of 5 days of choral and classical music, directed by Joseph Judge. All events take place in Tavistock Parish Church, St Eustachius, except for a lunchtime appearance by the choir at National Trust Buckland Abbey on 1 August.

On Wednesday 30 July we open with "I Was Glad": Great Anthems for Choir and Organ, interspersed with shining contemporary a cappella works, accompanied by festival organist Neil Taylor.

On Thursday 31st July, at 1.10pm there is a recital by Devon-based The Haldon Quartet, of works by Purcell, Mendelssohn and Karl Jenkins, followed in the evening at 7.30pm by "Despite the Snow" – our expressive recital for choir and piano featuring works by Poulenc, Lauridsen, Joanna Marsh, Bob Chilcott, Eriks Esenvalds and The Beatles. At 9.00pm we conclude with Compline by Candlelight.

Friday 1st August features two lunchtime concerts at 1.10pm – the choir's pop-up performance at the Great Barn, National Trust Buckland Abbey, of a programme entitled "Sun, Moon, Sea, and Stars" for unaccompanied choir; and an organ recital by Neil Taylor in Tavistock Parish Church. There will then be an opportunity to join us in Tavistock from 6.30-8.30pm in a Choral Workshop on both Edward Elgar and Oliver Tarney's settings of "The Spirit of the Lord", and in a joint performance on the following evening.

For the final festival concert in Tavistock Parish Church on Saturday 2nd August at 7.30pm we will be joined by both the Exon Festival Chorus and The Haldon Quartet in "Refuge": a programme for choir, piano, and string quintet, featuring works by Buxtehude, Caroline Shaw, Ola Gjeilo, Oliver Tarney and Edward Elgar.
The festival concludes with Choral Eucharist on Sunday 3 August at 9.45am, with works by Mozart and Finzi.