About The Morning Chorus
The Morning Chorus was formed in 2022 following the covid lockdowns. After so much time away from singing and the socialising that comes with being a member of a choir, we wanted to create a new group with an emphasis on building friendships and having a good time. With rehearsals and performances in the morning and afternoon, The Morning Chorus is a choir for people who prefer to do their singing during the day! The choir mostly sings music from the classical repertoire and welcomes all singers - experienced choral singers and those looking for a new challenge. The ability to read music is advantageous but not essential since guide tracks are provided to help with learning the notes!
In its short time together the choir has already enjoyed collaborations with the Newcastle Phoenix Choir and Fenham Ensemble, whilst a highlight of the first year was working with the world renowned composer Will Todd on his Jazz Missa Brevis. More recently The Morning Chorus has sung in the Daft As A Brush Last Night of the Proms concert at the City Hall, and will be returning for a second time, in October.
The Morning Chorus is directed by Simon Davies-Fidler and is accompanied by Len Young. Rehearsals take place at St James’ & St Basil’s Church on Wednesday mornings at 1030-1200 after which we drink good quality coffee and eat cake! You would be most welcome to join us!
For enquiries please send us an email: hello@themorningchorus.co.uk
About Simon
Simon Davies-Fidler is a choral conductor based in the Northeast. He is the music director of Voices of The River’s Edge, based at The Glasshouse International Centre of Music. The choir is currently preparing for a performance at the BBC Proms with Dinis Sousa, and looks forward to concerts with Royal Northern Sinfonia and Ellie Slorach at Christmas.
Simon is the founder and former music director of the multi award winning chamber choir Voices of Hope which has toured widely in Europe, recorded multiple albums, broadcast regularly on BBC radio and television, won National Choir of the Year in 2016 and was chosen by the BBC to represent the UK at the 2017 European Choir of the Year competition.
Until recently Simon was the Director of Music at St James’ & St Basil’s Church in Newcastle where he still directs Fenham Ensemble, J’s & B’s Singers, The Morning Chorus, The Newcastle Phoenix Choir and The St James Consort (with whom he has recorded music by Northeast composer Len Young).
Simon has prepared the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia for conductors including Nicholas McGegan, Pietari Inkinen, Jeanette Sorrell, Eamonn Dougan, Harry Bicket, Tolga Kashif and Paul McCreesh. As a conductor he has given premiere performances of works by Will Todd, Mira Calix, Ian Stephenson, Kathryn Tickell, John Kefala Kerr, Dai Fujikura, Judit Varga, Anna Appleby and Fiona Lander.
Simon’s time in the North East has included work over many years with the university choirs of Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and the Leeds College of Music. He works regularly with Streetwise Opera and Sunderland Opera. He has directed several choirs for The Glasshouse ICM, including Quay Voices, the youth choir of Royal Northern Sinfonia. Last year Simon enjoyed working with the European Doctors Orchestra, when he prepared a choir for a performance of the Poulenc Gloria with conductor, Constança Simas.
Accompanist Len Young
Len Young studied at the Royal College of Music in London. He then taught in London and Newcastle for fourteen years before spending ten years as Adviser for Music with Newcastle Education Authority. He resumed teaching as Head of Music, and later Assistant Head (Performing Arts College), at Queen Elizabeth High School from 1995 to 2008. He has encouraged people of all ages to participate in vocal work in a wide range of styles, starting singing events with over 2000 children in Newcastle City Hall.
He was conductor of Newcastle Choral Society from 1976 to 2007 and has also conducted Newcastle City Chorus and Felling Male Voice Choir. He started the North East Last Night of the Proms with George and Rosalynde Walker which raised £1m for NEPAC during his 17 years as conductor.
His many compositions include a musical Mine, numerous Christmas carols, Blackfriars, The Seafarer, a Requiem, Earth Song, Glimpses of Grainger Town, Spes Durat Avorum, Hexham Abbey Ground for organ and audience participation, and a full length musical Odysseus (libretto by Tony Webster) written for QEHS Youth Theatre. The Sing Together Choir gave the first performances of Today (text by David Pattinson) and A Day in Spring. In 2020
he composed Reflections, ten pieces for choir and piano to anonymous texts, which has been performed by Js and Bs Singers, and more recently by Il Capello Rosso at Wylam Winter Tales Festival. He has recently completed three Shakespeare Songs written for the 10th anniversary of Voices of Hope, Jubilate Deo for The Morning Chorus and Spring Has Come for Js and Bs Singers.
