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Macclesfield Singers
Welcome to Macclesfield Singers (formerly known as KEMS Choir). We are a friendly bunch of people who enjoy singing together.
We extend a
warm welcome for singers of any age (male or female) to join us. Macclesfield
Symphony Orchestra plays for most of our choral concerts and sometimes we're
joined by some of the Macclesfield Concert Band members - we all enjoy making
great music together.
New singers welcome
Singing in a choir is very rewarding and is great fun too. Macclesfield Singers
are always happy for new singers to join us, without audition. If you fancy
joining us please email Marianne Day or telephone her on 075408 48097.
Macclesfield Singers Music Director Mark McCombs looks back on the 2023-24
season
Summary of major works performed:
•Bernstein, Chichester Psalms
•Finzi, Lo, the Full Final Sacrifice
•Bruckner, Mass No.1 in D Minor
•Fauré, Requiem
•Fauré, Cantique de Jean Racine
The 2023-24 season has been a period of consolidation and solid progression for The
Macclesfield Singers, and as KEMS Choral Director I really feel that the choir and I are getting to grips
with what makes each other tick.
Our first performance of the season was a singing day on October 15th, where we welcomed
members and guest singers to spend the day working on Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine. These
works are staples of the diet of most choral singers, and I enjoyed the chance to put KEMS’ own particular stamp
on them. What makes KEMS such a joy to lead is the expressive liberties we’re able to take. Each tempo chance,
each dramatic pause a little more extravagant than other choirs might dare. The day was expertly accompanied by
Elin Rees, the superb organist of Bury Parish Church, who ensured that both KEMs’ resident singers and guests
had a blast
The highlight of the autumn semester was our performance of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms
in November with The Macclesfield Symphony Orchestra. Bernstein is a hero of mine, and I’d programmed the work
to coincide with the release of Netflix’ Maestro, a biopic film about him What made Bernstein the quintessential
maestro was his uncompromising approach to expression - and KEMS channelled this approach for our
all-guns-blazing rendition of the ‘Psalms. I’m very grateful to the orchestra and particularly Henry for this
performance - they were flexible, collaborative, and fully committed to the riotous sound we were trying to create.
It was also a huge pleasure to welcome Sofia Lotto as the soprano soloist for the work. I’ve taught Sofia since
she was 10, and I loved being able to work with her in a professional capacity.
KEMS’ Christmas Extravaganza was customarily joyous. The choir and orchestra performed a
varied collection of works, including another bombastic arrangement by one of my favourite festive creators
in Mack Wilberg’s Carol to the King. We also had a lot of fun performing with the brass section of the symphony
orchestra in an arrangement of the German carol In Dulci Jubilo with fantastic solos from tenors Ian and Duncan.
Add some Rutter and Rachmaninoff to the mix and we had quite the Christmas party!
Then in March, to quote Monty Python, it was a case ‘and now for something completely
different’. Bruckner’s first symphonic mass, No.1 in D minor, is absolutely gargantuan, and was quite the
undertaking for The Macclesfield Singers. The work was difficult to get to grips with not only because of its
scale, but because at times it feels verbose or protracted - representing the youthful endeavour of the budding
symphonic composer whose bicentenary we were celebrating. For me, the piece only makes sense when it comes
together with the orchestra, and I’m very grateful to the choir for persevering with the enterprise and then
absolutely embracing it on the day of the performance. It was a triumph, and I hope the members feel that their
hard work had been vindicated. We were once again joined by soloists Robyn Pullen, Louise Wood, Dominic Morgan
and Patrick Osbourne, all current students at the RNCM - and all future stars I'm sure.
The Bruckner mass was paired with Fauré’s Requiem - the perfect sorbet to cleanse the palate
after the immense Germanic feast - and I must say that KEMS performance of the work was immaculate. There was no
sense of autopilot in a work so often performed, and there was an attention to detail that made it spellbinding.
Bravo to all!
The Macclesfield Singers season finished with another about turn, this time in the direction
of KEMS’ Concert Band for a summer spectacular. And what a fun evening it was! The singers and band brought the
audience a veritable smorgasbord of delicious delights, from Verdi and Handel to Morricone and John Williams, via
a trip into the great American songbook. The diverse buffet of repertoire was unified by KEMS’ enthusiasm and
storytelling ability, which was a perfect way to round off the season.
As ever, I am personally indebted to a number of people for making the season such a success.
First and foremost to James Heathcote, the singers’ amazing accompanist, who always knows exactly what the choir
needs in rehearsal and provides it with fantastic humour - he has been a fantastic addition to our team. I am grateful
to the choirs’ committee for their hard work, to Anne and Annette, and especially to Barbara who’s had an enormous job
sourcing scores this season. Finally, I am truly very appreciative of the support I feel from all of the society. It’s
an absolute privilege to be able to lead our performances, so thanks for indulging me all year - and ong may it continue!
Musical Director (from September 2022): Mark McCombs
Mark McCombs is a conductor, composer and vocal tutor based in Manchester,
UK. He was a chorister of the critically acclaimed S.F.X Boys’ Choir, with whom he performed across Europe
and the US. Mark holds a PhD in Music Composition from The University of Sheffield.
He is founder and artistic director of The Seven Hills Singers, and director of The Oriel Singers, Liverpool.
Mark is an academic music teacher at Lymm High School, Cheshire,
and is also responsible for the school’s singing programme. Mark was head of choral music at Cheadle Hulme School,
one of the UK’s leading independent schools, from 2014-2021. He was responsible for the senior
school’s six choirs and provided the school’s pupils with individual tuition.
Until July 2021 Mark was also a vocal tutor to the choristers at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral,
and at the Sheena Simon School of The Manchester College.
Mark’s compositions have been performed internationally by The Sonnen Quartet,
The Ebor Singers, UOS Chamber Choir, Escafeld Chorale, The Choirs of Cheadle Hulme School,
and soprano Debra Finch. In 2012 Mark was shortlisted for the NCEM Composer Award.
From 2011-2017 Mark directed the choirs at the University of Sheffield.
The University’s elite Chamber Choir gained international standing during Mark’s tenure and were
invited to perform at the Messe pour la libération de Paris in Notre Dame Cathedral, in 2016.
The service was broadcast on Radio France and KTO TV. Mark taught harmony, counterpoint and musicianship,
and coordinated all choral conducting tuition at the University, where he also held the Sir Henry Coward Organ Scholarship from 2013-2016.
Mark was Director of Music and Organist at St Mark’s Church, Sheffield,
from 2013-2018 and has held organ scholarships with Sheffield Cathedral and St Matthew’s, Sheffield.
He holds a diploma from the Royal College of Organists and studied with Dr Simon Lindley.
Mark acknowledges the Charles Alan Bryars Organ Legacy and is a member
of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, the Royal College of Organists,
and the Association of British Choral Directors.
Accompanist (from September 2023): James Heathcote
James Heathcote is a versatile musician based in
Manchester. He works with a number of choirs in the region as both an accompanist and a Musical Director. As well as
the Macclesfield Singers, he has accompanied Stafford Choral Society, Streetwise Opera, and the Philharmonic Choir,
Manchester, and was Music Director of Warrington Musical Society in the year until July 2023. The focus of his piano
playing is choral accompaniment, but he has recorded some solo piano music for 'Flip the Stem', an initiative aimed at
addressing the imbalance of gender and ethnicity represented in concert programmes. He is also director of music at
the Manchester Oratory.
James is also a high-level cellist, and he has played with many of the country's finest orchestras,
including English Touring Opera, The Hallé, and the Orchestra of Opera North. A student of historical performance,
he's interested in finding new means of expression using old recordings and sources.
Macclesfield Singers Rehearsals