Confluence
The Confluence at Christchurch Priory
The Confluence, planned as the crescendo of the project was an ambitious event which drew together people of all ages, musical abilities and styles, including both professional and amateur groups, semi - professional ensembles, school groups, new and experienced singers and many more. Staged in the inspirational setting of Christchurch Priory, this event was a demonstration of the quality and diversity of what had gone before, and of what was possible for the future. It was the largest scale and complex concert that we had yet organised, and one of the largest events ever to be held in the Priory.
The first part of the concert gave a platform to familiar faces from the Confluence portfolio: Pipeworks, Watershed, the Otter choir, the Cutwater Band and Shreen Harmony all made an appearance, with music from the Well Being and local folk musician Tim Laycock bringing life again to one of the Folk Ballads from the Talkative River concert in 1999. We also wanted to represent groups we had worked with in Christchurch, and so we were pleased to welcome the Candlelight Singers, who gave the first performance of two new songs written by their director Stella Jackson Smith and The Lighthouse Youth Project who created a sound collage of music and ambient sound. Members of the Confluence Performing Club also appeared promoting their work, and performing some old favourites.
The second part was the premiere of Silver Messenger - sounding the Stour by Karen Wimhurst, to a libretto by James Crowden.
Silver Messenger - Sounding the Stour
The Concert (Christchurch Priory,14th July 2001)
