The choirs combined

A LANDMARK music event involving three local choirs will be the national backdrop to a celebration of Saffron Walden’s rich history.

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Saffron Walden Choral Society, Granta Chorale and youth choir SignuptoSing have teamed up with the internationally famous Britten Sinfonia to present a gala concert, called MazeMusic, on Saturday, March 3.

It will take place in Saffron Walden St Mary’s Church, which will be transformed for the much-anticipated performance. It is all part of Music Nation, a national event organised by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and the BBC as a prelude to the London 2012 Festival and the Cultural Olympiad.

MazeMusic is one of only 15 Making Music community projects which, together with other concerts, have been chosen to take part in the spectacular countrywide weekend of music. It is likely to be filmed by the BBC and could be broadcast to the nation.

The choirs’ musical director Janet Wheeler said: “It has taken such a long time to plan and to see it about to come to fruition – we are working on the music now – is very exciting.

“Saffron Walden is such a special place and to be celebrating this occassion musically is a real privilege.”

The programme will be preceded by the ringing of the church bells by the Saffron Walden Society of Change Ringers. In addition to music by Vaughan Williams, Holst, Sting and Tippett, the choirs, orchestra and pupils from the Kate Plummer School of Dance will join forces to perform the première of MAZE, a specially commissioned cantata composed by Mrs Wheeler, with libretto by the well known writer and playwright Nick Warburton.

“The standard of music in this area is quite phenomenal – I think people from outside are surprised at what a polished and enthusiastic base it has here,” explained Mrs Wheeler.

“There are so many groups people can sing in, and three choirs coming together for this programme is a wonderful experience.

“There will be 50 young singers of primary and secondary school age and, of course, the two adult choirs, so it is a concert for all ages.”

As part of the overall project, players from Britten Sinfonia and acclaimed composer Elspeth Brooke are also running a series of composition workshops for senior music students of Saffron Walden County High School, the first two of which took place in September and November.

The project is supported by charity The Yellow Car Charitable Trust.

For information about the project, its participants and how to obtain tickets, visit mazemusic.org.uk