Concerts 2026, 2025, 2024
MD Anthony Coupe
Soloists
Soprano Gemma King
Alto Bethan Langford
Tenor Richard Robbins
Bass Andrew Wickens
Accompanists
Catrina Lapage - Piano
John Bowen - Organ
Saturday 20th June 2026
United Reformed Church. Shrewsbury.
Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle
What fun. What atmosphere. What wonderful soloists. What accomplished 'keyboard' players (can you call an organ a kepboard?)
Mr Coupe's direction of the choir brought out the nuances and excitement of Rossini's tongue in cheek Mass.
The many highlights included Gemma King and Bethan Langford's sublime duet Qui tollis and John Bowen's Preludio religioso. Who knew a church organ could sound like that?
Catrina Lapage is Cantata's regular accompianist and the choir is so lucky to have her. It was wonderful to enjoy her expertise in a concert setting.
Thank you to our wonderful audience who seemed to very much enjoy the interval 'Rossini Cocktails' as well!
Saturday 25th April. 2026.
Antonín Dvořák's Stabat Mater
St Chad's Church. Shrewsbury
MD Anthony Coupe
Soloists
Soprano Gemma King
Alto Bethan Langford
Tenor Will Smith
Bass Piran Legg
with
Shrewsbury Sinfonia, led by Anne Tupling
THANK YOU to our regular audience members, and to those who have perhaps just found us, for sharing another wonderful evening of outstanding music.
Mr Coupe was inspiring, Sinfonia were wonderful, the soloists defy adequate descriptions of praise and the choir was on top form.
A beautiful and moving evening of heartfelt, soaring, poignant Dvořák'.
Saturday 20 December. 2025.
Handel's Messiah
St Chad’s Church. Shrewsbury. SY1 1JL
Under the baton of Anthony Coupe
With Shrewsbury Sinfonia, led by Anne Tupling.
Soloists Gemma King, Soprano
Bethan Langford . Alto
Tom Kelly. Tenor
Piran Legg. Bass
What a triumph our evening was.
Fantastic soloists. Excellent accompanists. Choir in absolute top form. Tony sparking and sparkling in his leadership.
A full St Chad's with a knowledgeable and appreciative audience. Thank you, supporters, for the long and enthusiastic standing ovation.
From audience members:
"‘Nailed it’ as they say. "
"Congratulations to Maestro Tony and the Cantata Choir for such a wonderful performance of 'Messiah' last night. The 'sound world' that the singers, choir and excellent soloists brought to the piece was outstanding and so also was the discipline in the articulation and dynamic range; absolutely fantastic! It shows what real commitment can bring when there is a goal to be achieved. "
"A wonderful way in which to start Christmas week.
The soloists, choir & sinfonia we’re all outstanding. And Mr Coupe gave so much energy. Cannot wait to hear what is next. "
Saturday 14th June 2025.
Summer Concert.
St Alkmunds Church. Shrewsbury. SY1 1UH
A full audience, canapès. wine, music with pathos and music with lots of fun. What a fantastic atmophere it was.
From Madrigals through 'Porgy and Bess' to Chilcott’s ‘A Little Jazz Mass’ via jazzed up Bach. An enjoyable, varied program.
This was quite a special Cantata performance as it showcased some of the special talent we have within the choir.
Accolades to:
Jessica Shukie. Our own Cantata soprano
Catrina Lapage. Cantata's so talented accompanist
Gill Berry. Our own Cantata composer
Tony Coupe. Our (usually) patient and brilliant MD.
Saturday 26th April 2025.
St Chad’s Church. Shrewsbury. SY1 1JL
Brahms - A German Requiem
Conducted by Anthony Coupe
Soloists Gemma King and Sam
With Shrewsbury Sinfonia. Leader Anne Tupling.
"Truly thrilling"
"An emotional roller coaster"
"Words cannot properly express. Just fabulous"
The choir gave their all, Tony Coupe gave his all. The orchestra were excellent and the soloists brilliant (a special thank you to Sam for stepping in at the last minute).
The large audience fully appreciated this stunning performance with standing ovation and prolonged applause. Thank you to them.
Sunday 22nd December 2024.
Carols for Christmas
URC. Coleham Head. Shrewsbury.
A packed church including lots of children.
Thank you to all our supporters who were in very good voice for the audience inclusive carols.
The Brass Buttons brass quartet entertained us all brilliantly.
The bar staff coped well with the enthusiastic queue for mulled wine and most of the free mince pies were gobbled up without many crumbs.
Highlight of the evening was Tony Coupe's beautiful and moving arrangement of Silent Night, 'Sleep in Heavenly Peace', which is dedicated to Tony's work colleague and and friend Kevin Whitley 1974-2024. Cantata hope to make this a regular feature of our Christmas concerts.
Saturday 23rd November 2024
St Chad's Church
Haydn : Nelson Mass
Handel: Dixit Dominus
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Conducted by Anthony Coupe
Soloists and Tony
Isabella Abbot Parker, Natasha Hendrickse-Welsh, Piran Legg, Russell Painter, Anthony Coupe, Gemma King,
Comments from the audience:
"What a thrill. I had not come across the Haydn piece before. Wonderful. I am surprosed it is not performed more often."
"Loved the concert. The choir did full justice to Haydn and I've still got Mozart going round in my head this morning."
"Congrats Cantata. The Haydn was marvellous."
Saturday 29th June 2024
Shrewsbury Festival Chorus presented
Edward Elgar - TThe Dream of Gerontius
Soloists - Will Smith (Gerontius)
Kate Trethewey (The Angel)
Peter Edge (Priest and Angel of the Agony)
Conducted by Anthony Coupe
Leader - Anne Tupling
Shrewsbury Cantata Choir and Shrewsbury Choral came together in The Abbey as Shrewsbury Festival Chorus.
THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS
What a fantastic evening.
The Abbey was packed out with an appreciative audience who were rewarded by soloists, choir and orchestra delivering a moving and top class performance under the inspired direction and baton of Tony Coupe. The performers were rewarded by a standing ovation. Thank you supporters.
"The soloists were stunning, the orchestra were superb and the choir expressive and dramatic."
Saturday 13 April 2024
Poulenc's Gloria
Vivaldi's Gloria
Soloists - Gemma King and Samantha Lewis. Organist Paul Carr.
Conducted by Anthony Coupe
URC. Coleham Head. Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Cantata Choir presented their Spring 2024 concert featuring sublime soloists and a wonderful organist.
Thank you once again to a wonderful audience. It was clear that the Poulenc Gloria is not well known and has not often been performed in Shrewsbury as our audience were not sure that it had finished. (It completes with a
ppp amen from choir and then the soprano. Not your usual resounding and crescendo AMEN). The audience therefore waited politely for the next movement to start, whilst the choir smiled in hopeful anticipation of applause, until Tony (MD) turned around to the audience. We were then rewarded with welcome and loud appreciation.
Saturday 16 March 2024
DIXIT DOMINUS
THANK YOU from Cantata to Tony Coupe, Bells Lewers and Ellesmere College Choral Society for inviting us to join them and Ellesmere Camerata and a host of fabulously talented soloists and guest singers in the performance of Handel's Dixit Dominus as part of their Gala Choral Concert for Cancer at Ellesmere College.
It was simply the best night. A joyous occasion.
Bells enjoying her moment Tony with audience Bells slightly overcome Tony in his Cancer Research in standing ovation tutu. Shame about the legs.
MD Anthony Coupe
Soloists:
Soprano Katie Trethewey
Mezzo Soprano Holly Teague
Tenor Scott Phillips
Bass Jakob Fradley
Accompanied by
Organ - Paul Carr
Orchestra - Camerata Leader Ann Tupling
