WACIDOM

Saturday 16th May 2026 1:45pm – 2:30pm

Ignatius Singers

Sopranos: Omara Silvester, Eleanor Hobbs & Philippa Neal
Altos: Laura Mummery, Sarah Ampil & Grace Hughes
Tenors: Paul Mummery & Laurence Hughes
Basses: Tom Henderson & David Hoult

Programme
—Please applaud after the respective groupings of pieces.

Hermann of Reichenau Salve Regina – chant “Hail holy queen” – traditional

Sir William Henry Harris Holy is the true light
Ola Gjeilo Ubi Caritas
Anton Bruckner Locus Iste (WAB 23)

Arvo Part Morning Star
Josef Rheinberger Abendlied (Op. 69/3)

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Sicut Cervus
Thomas Tallis If ye love me

Felix Mendelssohn Lift thine eyes
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford Beati quorum via
Maurice Durufle Ubi Caritas

Kate Rusby (arr. Jim Clements) Underneath the Stars

Biography
The Ignatius Singers are resident at the Catholic Church of the Holy Name at Manchester University. The grandeur of this splendid Victorian building, modelled on Chartres Cathedral, and its beautiful acoustics, make it a wonderful place to sing. Its members are drawn from the University, the RNCM and other excellent groups such as the Manchester Chamber Choir, the St George’s Singers and the Halle Choir. The Ignatius Singers are currently fundraising to support a core of paid professional singers as it seeks to develop and grow. As part of this process, they are hosting a Come and Sing event, ‘I was glad’, with an orchestra, at the Church on June 12. If you’re a singer and interested in participating, please contact Laurence Hughes for more details: ignatiussingers@gmail.com

We are very appreciative of the contribution Warrington Musical Society made to WACIDOM when it closed last year. We are able to offer this concert because of its generosity.

Our next recital is on Saturday, 23^rd May when we welcome the Outstanding Young Pianists.

We hope you will be able to join us.

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Saturday 9th May 2026 1:45pm – 2:30pm

Pip Clarke – Violin, Havilland Willshire – Piano

Programme

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin and Piano sonata No 26 in B flat major, K.378
i Allegro moderato
ii Andantino sostenuto e cantabile
iii Rondeau: Allegro

Francois Francoeur – Fritz Kreisler Sicilienne and Rigaudon

Johannes Brahms Piano and Violin sonata. Opus 108. In D minor
i Allegro
ii Adagio
iii Un poco presto e con sentimento
iv Presto agitato

Biographies

Pip Clarke is a unique musician. Critics have described her playing as “dazzling”, demonstrating “incredible emotion” and often noting an “audience spellbound”. Pip gave her ‘sold out’ debut in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall in 2007, performing the Korngold violin concerto with the New York Pops Orchestra. Concert performances in the United States have included with the Florida Orchestra; the Colorado Symphony; the Syracuse Symphony; the Utah Symphony; the Buffalo Philharmonic; and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Pip made a guest appearance at the Hollywood Bowl opening Gala Concert, and was the featured violin soloist in the major motion picture “15 Minutes” (with Robert De Niro). She also appeared in recital as one of the “Rising Stars” at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. Performances in Canada included repeat appearances with the Calgary Philharmonic and the Regina Symphony. In the UK Pip has performed with the London Sinfonia, and toured with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

CD recordings include ‘After a Dream’, and ‘Amidst a Fantasy’ featuring a collection of short romantic concert pieces; and a debut recording on Albany Records of a violin concerto by the American composer, Lee Actor. Written for Pip, it is an outstanding composition with lush contemporary romantic melodies and dazzling virtuosity. Since returning home to live in the UK in 2018, Pip has collaborated with the pianist Martin Jones, with her sister Nikki, and is part of a musical partnership with the pianist Havilland Willshire.

Havilland Willshire is regularly invited to speak about the role of music in the lives of young people. He has worked extensively with young musicians as conductor and pianist and is highly sought after as adjudicator and competition jury member. An experienced examiner, he has served on numerous validation and review panels.

He held the post of Co-ordinator of Metropolitan Wigan Instrumental Music Service for nine years before accepting the position of Head of Junior Conservatoire of Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2000. Following a year as Head of Music Education in 2008 he became Dean of the School of Music in 2009. In 2014 he was appointed Assistant Director and Head of Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and more recently, Director of the Faculty of Music in November 2018, a post he held until early 2023.

A dedicated teacher, he taught for a number of years at the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music Junior School and continued to teach at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Trinity Laban. Currently he teaches at Cheltenham College. He also enjoys an active concert career as soloist and chamber musician including live broadcasts and recordings for BBC Radio and is the duo partner for the violinist Pip Clarke.

Our next recital is on Saturday, 16th May when we welcome the Ignatius Singers.

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We enjoyed the Outstanding Young Pianists – Sam Lord, Melody Zhao and Natalia Mei playing a superb selection of music to celebrate yet another milestone concert. At the end, Sam played ‘Happy Birthday’ and we learned that it was Melody’s 16th birthday today.

We also learned that Helen (who holds the donations basket after our concerts) has attended all 550 concerts.

Thank you to Alan (who takes photographs for us) for presenting us with this 3D printed embossed plaque.

Finally, thank you to the Committee who ensure that our concert programme is of a consistently high standard and that our audience receives a warm welcome to the concerts.

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WACIDOM is a voluntary run music society and charity that holds free lunchtime concerts on Saturday afternoons at Holy Trinity Church in Warrington Town Centre. All our concerts are funded by donations.

Our main aim is to offer opportunities to young student musicians, most often from the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School of Music, but sometimes further afield. We also support musicians at the start of their careers as they build repertoire, confidence and platform skills.

In 2024 we celebrated our 500^th free concert which was played by Patron, Leon McCawley and Patron, Sir Stephen Hough kindly offered to play a December concert, to bring our celebratory year to a close.

Sir Stephen asked that donations were to go to WACIDOM to support our work with young and aspiring musicians. He was there once!

Our location link. Our next/current series programme information. Previous concerts link.

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The page can be accessed from:

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Click here for a shortcut to the link.

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