Harpenden Barbershop Harmony Club (HBHC) will create new music with a St Albans composer as part of a nationwide initiative.

The club was chosen to be part of the 'Adopt a Music Creator' project, organised by Making Music - formerly The National Federation of Music Societies.

Through the initiative, music groups are paired with some of the UK's most promising composers to collaborate on creating a new piece of music, culminating in a premiere performance, a recording and a broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

HBHC has been paired with St Albans-based composer Charlotte Botterill, whose work has been performed in the UK, USA, Poland and France.

Charlotte said: "I'm really looking forward to trying something a bit different this year, to working with HBHC, immersing myself in a blanket of close harmony, and moulding it into my own sound.

"I anticipate an inspiring musical year ahead!"

Over the next few months Charlotte and the chorus, plus mentor Jenni Pinnock from Cambridge, will take part in creative workshops to generate musical material for the new work.

The resulting piece will be premiered at St John's Church in Harpenden on Saturday, November 16, as part of a charity concert for Macmillan Cancer Support, alongside Abbey Gateway Orchestra.

The concert is also the culmination of HBHC's 40th anniversary celebrations.

Club chair Mike Rose said: "We are so excited to be chosen for the scheme and to be paired with Charlotte, especially with this being our 40th anniversary year!

"We are holding a number of events to celebrate and have already held a very enjoyable honorary members’ evening where many former members attended.

"Plus we intend to hold a murder mystery evening for all members and their guests in late July. The charity concert will round off the year very nicely."

READ MORE

The club recently competed at two music festivals in Bedford and Milton Keynes and gained a commendation in both.

They sang 'Do You Hear The People Sing?' from Les Misérables and 'To Make You Feel My Love' by Bob Dylan.

Potential new members can visit the club on their Thursday evening rehearsals at Wood End School in Harpenden.