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RIPIENO CHOIR CELEBRATES MUSIC OF ORLANDO GIBBONS

The Ripieno Choir kicks off its 2025/2026 season with a celebration of the music of Orlando Gibbons, one of the great English composers straddling the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I and who died 400 years ago. Gibbons is renowned for his keyboard music, but even more for his great choral works, both sacred and secular.

The choir, which includes five singers from Claygate, will sing madrigals, including The Silver Swan and great anthems such as the six-part Hosanna to the Son of David, led by Patrick Allies, the choir's superb conductor. The performance takes place at St Mary's church, Ewell, on Sunday November 23 at 3pm. Tickets are available at ripienochoir.org.uk/concerts/tickets

The Ripleno Choir was founded nearly 80 years ago by a group of friends in the Weybridge and Esher area to sing mainly madrigals and carols. Over the years it has grown into a 30-strong chamber choir which, although it does sing music from every period, concentrates on great music of the renaissance and baroque eras. Anyone interested in joining (and who can sight-read music) is encouraged to email join@riplenochoir.org.uk. The choir is currently looking for a tenor and a bass.