TSO Chorus honoured to sing at Anzac Day service in London

It’s a thrill’ for TSO Chorus as they prepare for performance at Westminster Abbey. They will be performing ahead of the UK tour at one of Tasmania’s most well-known churches.

TSO Chorus Co-ordinator Nadeena Beck and Chorusmaster Warren Trevelyan-Jones with members of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Picture: Amy Brown/TSO

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus is about to set out on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to London for a series of key marquee performances.

Over a whirlwind tour in the United Kingdom, the TSO Chorus will perform at Westminster Abbey for the Anzac Day service and also at an official reception at the Australian High Commission.

Chorusmaster Warren Trevelyan-Jones said it was a great opportunity for the chorus.

“It’ll be a great thrill for our chorus members to sing at Westminster Abbey,” he said.

“It’s not something people get the chance to do very often.”

The chorus will have a full half an hour of singing to welcome guests.

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus performs Handel's Messiah in the Federation Concert Hall in Hobart. Picture Caleb Miller/TSO

Ahead of the tour and closer to home, TSO Chorus will be performing at St John’s Church in Launceston on March 15.

Mr Trevelyan-Jones said the chorus will be working with organist Calvin Bowman.

“It’s a beautiful opportunity for us to sing in a fine acoustic with one of Australia’s best pipe organs and work with one of Australia’s best organists,” he said.

“We’re doing a very mixed program of largely sacred works. It is the season of Lent, so it’s framed by movements of the Brahms German Requiem, and then it includes some Australian works.”

With an accomplished career in music, Mr Trevelyan-Jones said being a part of the TSO itself was a great honour.

“It’s a very fine orchestra,” he said.

“For amateur singers the opportunity to make music and share the stage with such a top class professional ensemble is a great thrill.”

Mr Trevelyan-Jones, originally from West Wales in the UK, said he felt at home in Tasmania.

“The musicians here are very serious and focused on their art and I find it an amazingly welcoming family,” he said.

The TSO Chorus will be performing in the UK from April 16-25 including at Birmingham Symphony Hall with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and soprano Eleanor Lyons and at Gloucester and Worcester Cathedrals.

See the TSO Chorus perform closer to home at St Johns, tickets at www.tso.com.au