Taunton Association of Performing Arts

Summer concert
2023-07-16 16:00 - 17:30 (Europe/London) | St George’s Church, Taunton, Fons George, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3JT, United Kingdom
Voce chamber choir present their summer concert, an exciting mix of choir all music from a wide range of genres.

Taunton Sinfonietta
2023-07-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Temple Methodist Church, Taunton, Upper High Street Taunton, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3PY, United Kingdom
December concert with Taunton Young Musician

Lunchtime Concert – Folk Songs from Ukraine and Britain
2023-07-14 12:00 - 13:30 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Mezzo soprano Iryna Ilnytska and pianist, organist and composer, Sam Baker have devised a programme of traditional folk music to keep you entertained.
Drinks will be available before the concert.
There will be a retiring collection in aid of Children of Heroes and St John’s Church.
This event has been sponsored by Invest SW.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
2023-07-11 19:30 - 22:00 | Somerset
Classic comedy for a summer evening. Touring production of ten out-door performances at beautiful Somerset locations.
Bring friends, chairs and a picnic.

West Somerset Singers–Singing Workshop
2023-07-08 09:30 - 12:30 | St George’s Roman Catholic Church, Taunton, Billet Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3NN, United Kingdom
West Somerset Singers are running a Singing Workshop 9.30am – 12.30am on Saturday 8th July in the Parish Centre, St Georges Church, Billet Street, Taunton, TA1 3NN. Registration is from 9.00am. In addition to working to improve our sound, we will be singing a mixture of styles of music, ancient and modern. Tickets £10 available from Chris Knapman, Secretary, tel: 01823 335303 or email: secretary@westsomersetsingers.org.uk.

Taunton Concert Band --Armed Forces Day
2023-07-01 - 2023-07-02 | Vivary Park, Upper High Street, Taunton, United Kingdom
Taunton Concert band play in Vivary park to celebrate Armed Forces day

Wednesday Orchestra End of term Playthrough
2023-06-28 20:00 - 22:00 | Oakwood Church, Obridge Road, Taunton, TA2 7PU
This is our end of term informal Play through. We welcome family, friends and anyone interested in the Orchestra to come along

Music on the Levels: Daisy Chapman
2023-06-25 14:00 - 17:00 | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
Daisy Chapman is an incredibly well-travelled pianist and vocalist who draws influences from the anti-folk world. Every song harbours a dark story of love, lust and loss told through her exquisite voice and piano, with Sue Lord on violin bringing the performance to harmonious ending every time.
Since her first solo release in 2006, Daisy has proven herself as a talented and shrewd songwriter in demand. Three albums have been recorded by renowned producer Ali Chant at Toybox Studios (PJ Harvey, Gruff Rhys, Giant Sand, Seasick Steve), the most recent (She Took Flight 2023) was recorded at Studio Nord, Bremen DE and Nine Volt Leap, Wiltshire UK.
In 2009 Daisy’s piano style and versatility was noticed by UK prog rockers Crippled Black Phoenix (Seasons of Mist Records), and since then on and off Daisy has travelled as pianist/BV with the band on tours covering every corner of Europe as well as a short trip to China. Daisy was also chosen as vocalist on their cover of ACDC’s “Let Me Put My Love Into You” which was used in Classic Rock Magazine’s cover CD – a stark departure from her wistful singing style, proving her adaptability in musical genres.
In 2012 Daisy teamed up with violinist Sue Lord. The duo have been playing together ever since, bringing a sonic dynamic to her music, the violin almost acting as an additional voice. As a backing singer for well-known artists, she has proven her skills many times. As a performer, Daisy Chapman has a appeared at Glastonbury, 2000Trees, Migration Festival (Taiwan), Breminale (Germany) and worldwide tours. One of her songs (a cover of Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’) won an Independent Music Award which was jusdged by Tom Waits – this certainly raised her profile with her peers.
The 2023 album ‘She Took Flight’ was arranged and written by Daisy with Red Carousel quartet on strings. Daisy’s love of string instruments (as featured heavily in 2009 ‘The Green Eyed’) is now ever more apparent and her skill at scoring has certainly grown over the years.
In addition to her solo work, her newest project is prog band ‘Venus Principle’ where she shares lead vocals with ex CBP singer Daniel Anghede, their debut album was released on Prophecy Records in 2022.

Somerset County Orchestra Concert
2023-06-17 19:30 - 22:00 | St James’ Church, Taunton, St James Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JS, United Kingdom
For the Summer Concert on Saturday 17th June, the Somerset County Orchestra has a glittering collection of musical jewels for everyone to enjoy. Join us to savour the sparkling magic of Tchaikovsky’s fairy-tale Nutcracker Suite, and enjoy the bustle and excitement of a quick trip round the capital with the delightful London Suite by Eric Coates. Originally written for a pantomime, the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla’s Three Cornered Hat Suite is overflowing with remarkable imagination and flair. You can also thrill to the drama and emotion played out in the themes of rebellion, love and betrayal in Khachaturian’s Spartacus, and experience the inventive and dazzling sound journey that is Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. So many treats in one evening! The concert will be in the lovely setting of St James’ Church, Taunton, starting at 7:30pm on Saturday 17th June 2023.

Blackdowns Early Music Projects – Spirit of the Blues
2023-06-15 19:30 - 21:30 | All Saints Church, Culmstock, Fore Street,, CULMSTOCK, Devon, EX15 3JD, United Kingdom
The first Third Thursday of 2023 starts with a new sort of early music, blues and spirituals dating from around a century ago, sung by Julia Titus with Steve Graham on cornet and Mike Denham on keyboard. Both Steve and Mike are well known on the Jazz circuits in the South West and further afield, being part of the nationally acclaimed Sunset Cafe Stompers. They frequently work with Julia Titus, an actress, poet, singer and songwriter. Among her talents is the ability to convincingly put over the songs of that great blues & vaudeville singer of the 1920s, Bessie Smith. Building on her passion for the ‘Empress of the Blues’, Julia started to perform as Ma Bessie, sharing the music of Ms Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners. Expect to hear classics including ‘Careless Love’, ‘Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out’, ‘Gimme A Pig Foot (And A Bottle Of Beer)’, and of course ‘Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight’, all delivered with verve and style. The programme, in this lovely venue, will be completed with a selection of Gospel numbers, another genre in which Julia delights!

Taunton Sinfonietta
2023-06-10 19:30 - 21:30 | St James’ Church, Taunton, St James Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JS, United Kingdom
Bach concertos for oboe, and double concerto for oboe and violin, soloists Lynn Carter and Mary Eade, and music by Albinoni, Morricone, Bridge, Dvorak and Tippett.

Collegium Singers Summer Concert
2023-06-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Sheppy’s Cider Barn, Three Bridges, Bradford-on-Tone, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 1ER, United Kingdom
Collegium Singers June Concert – Here comes the Sun!
Songs, ballads and madrigals to enhance a summer evening
Musical Director – Elinor Cooper
Saturday 10th June 2023 at 7.30 pm
The Old Barn, Sheppy’s Cider Farm, Bradford-on-Tone, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 1ER
https://www.sheppyscider.com/the-cider-farm/events/
Programme
My spirit sang all day – Gerald Finzi
Now is the month of maying – Thomas Morley
The Flower – Alec Roth
Gartenlieder: Im Wald – Fanny Mendelssohn
Gartenlieder: Lockung – Fanny Mendelssohn
Abendfieir in Venedig – Clara Schumann
A boy and a girl – Eric Whitacre
O waly waly – arr. Guy Turner
To be sung of a summer night – Frederick Delius
Over hill over dale – Ralph Vaughan Williams
All creatures now – John Bennet
Il est bel et bon – Pierre Passereau
Early one morning – Ben Parry
All things are quite silent – Kerry Andrew
Cornish Wassail – Imogen Holst
Interval
The long day closes – Arthur Sullivan
El hambo – Jaakko Mantyjarvi
Bumble bee – The Real Group
Stand in that river – Moira Smiley
And so it goes – Bob Chilcott
Underneath the stars – Kate Rusby
Somewhere over the rainbow – arr. Guy Turner
Let’s do it – arr. David Blackwell
Shenandoah – James Erb
Here comes the sun – Ben Parry

Lunchtime Concert - Blow up the Merry Organ
2023-06-09 12:00 - 13:30 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
An opportunity to hear John Young demonstrate the beautiful tonal colours of the St John’s organ and he will perhaps also blow out some cobwebs.
Drinks will be available before the concert.
There will be a retiring collection.
This event has been sponsored by Invest SW.

Taunton Concert Band play at Wellington Park
2023-06-04 14:30 - 16:30 | Wellington Park, 3 Courtland Road, Wellington, United Kingdom
At programme of easy listening in the sun in park.

Dance Festival
2023-05-30 - 2023-06-06 | Queen’s College, Taunton, Trull Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4QS , United Kingdom
The Dance Festival is to encourage and promote the performance and enjoyment of dance. Aiming particularly, but not exclusively at young people, it provides a challenge and unique opportunity to perform in a competitive and non-competitive situation in front of an adjudicator.

Early Summer Concert
2023-05-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Tacchi Morris Arts Center, School Rd, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8PD, United Kingdom
Taunton Concert Band’s early summer concert will feature various music styles, from classics to pop, for everyone to enjoy and get you into the summer mood.

Taunton Concert Band Summer Concert
2023-05-27 07:00 - 21:00 | Tacchi Morris Arts Center, School Rd, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8PD, United Kingdom
A mixed programme of light music for the Summer

Music on the Levels: Kingsbury Band
2023-05-21 14:00 - 17:00 | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
This is a wind band, made up of brass and woodwind instruments, originating from the small village of Kingsbury Episcopi in South Somerset, although rehearses are in nearby Langport. It exists for the pleasure and enjoyment of making music for themselves and others. The band attends in excess of 30 functions each year, which includes fetes, concerts, weddings and other private functions, travelling as far afield as Taunton, Lyme Regis and Wellington.
The vast majority of these events are for charity fund-raising or celebration purposes such as the Kingsbury May Festival and other local village fetes. Many engagements continue year on year.

Harmonia Singing day Bridgwater
2023-05-20 - 2023-05-21 | Somerset
Harmonia, a new choir in Bridgwater. Risen from the ashes of the sadly gone Bridgwater Choral Society.
A singing day and concert conducted by Jackie Ayres.
Programme-Rutter’s Requiem and varied arrangements of songs form around the British isles as well as a few classic gems.
COME ALONG AND SING.. contact jackieand davidayres@hotmail.com

Lunchtime Concert - My Spirit Sang All Day
2023-05-12 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
The Wilbye Quartet
Four voices got together during Covid restrictions and have continued singing since then, performing music both sacred and secular in the South West.
Our programme for Spring 2023 is a survey of English Song spanning seven centuries, from Greensleeves and the first known round, through the Renaissance period to the late 19th – early 20th century.
The richness and scope of English song repertoire through the centuries presents a huge problem for the Quartet: how to limit the programme to under an hour? The result of many hours of trying out pieces, we have cherry-picked some of the best known and loved songs through the ages, as well as a few of our personal favourites.
Though the list can’t be comprehensive we have tried to present a thumbnail sketch, with music by Henry VIII, Byrd, Dowland, Wilbye, Tallis and Purcell to Elgar, Finzi, and Vaughan Williams and others.
Drinks will be available before the concert.
There will be a retiring collection in aid of St Margaret’s Hospice and St John’s Church.
This event has been sponsored by Invest SW

Taunton Concert band play at Vivary park Coronation Weekend
2023-05-07 14:00 - 16:30 | Vivary Park, Upper High Street, Taunton, United Kingdom
A programme of easy listening music in the sun in the park.

May Day Celebration
2023-05-01 10:00 - 16:00 | Sheppy’s Cider Barn, Three Bridges, Bradford-on-Tone, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 1ER, United Kingdom
We are pleased to announce our May Day event will be returning for 2023.
Collegium Singers will be performing in two sessions during the festivities.
The event includes maypole dancing, Morris dancing, a craft fair and activities for the whole family.
Everyone is welcome to join in with our maypole dancing led by Taunton Deane Morris Men during the event.
With lots of free activities as well as an outdoor bar and food stall there is plenty to do.
We hope the whole family will be able to join us between 10am – 4pm.

Music on the Levels: The Ciderhouse Rebellion
2023-04-30 14:00 - 17:00 | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
The Ciderhouse Rebellion performance is uniquely magical, whether springing from a single unplanned note or a trad tune. The duo is fiddle player Adam Summerhayes (“Paganini of the traditional violin.” fRoots) and master accordionist Murray Grainger.
“I could almost feel a super power between the two of them” MusoMuso.
“Compelling, exciting and utterly original” Phil Beer.

National Organ Day
2023-04-22 10:00 - 16:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
St John’s Church, Taunton will again be taking part in the National Organ Day Event when organists are invited to drop in and take a turn on the Father Willis Organ. Booking is advisable to avoid disappointment and can be made by contacting the Churchwarden via the Church website: www.stjohnstaunton.org.uk
The church will be open between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Refreshments will also be available.
Members of the public are also welcome to drop in look around the church and find out more about the history of the organ and check out the 2nd Hand Bookstall..

Lunchtime Concert – Children’s’ Hour
2023-04-14 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
In celebration of the 160th Anniversary of the Consecration of St John’s Church, the Lunchtime Concerts will be starting in April will a special hour long programme. The founder and benefactor, The Rev’d Jeremiah Smith dedicated much of his efforts to the education of children so it is apt that this concert will be especially children, but for all ages to enjoy..
The Skylarks will return to St John’s as a wind quintet, presenting a programme featuring Humperdinck’s opera Hansel and Gretel with narration, the concert includes other tuneful classics from Bizet’s Jeaux d’enfants, Warlock’s Capriol Suite and other musical gems.
The Skylark Quintet
The Skylarks come from the far corners of the world and have enjoyed careers spanning five continents. Now based in the South West, they met as freelance professional musicians and saw the potential for making wonderful chamber music together.
‘…relaxed and beautiful phrasing, lush sound, contrasting colours, shifting balances and pure enjoyment between friends who are consummate musicians.’
There will be a retiring collection in aid of The Stroke Association and St John’s Church.
This event has been sponsored by Invest SW.

In Ecclesia Celebrating Easter at St John’s
2023-04-08 20:00 - 22:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Easter Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter

In Ecclesia Celebrating Easter at St John’s
2023-04-07 14:00 - 15:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Good Friday – The Final Hour

In Ecclesia Celebrating Easter at St John’s
2023-04-06 07:30 - 09:30 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Eucharist of the Last Supper and Compline

Coronation celebration concert
2023-04-01 19:30 - 22:00 | St James’ Church, Taunton, St James Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JS, United Kingdom
A choral concert to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III
Handel Coronation Anthems Zadok the Priest plus others
Mozart Coronation Mass

Wednesday Orchestra End of term Playthrough
2023-03-29 20:00 - 22:00 | Oakwood Church, Obridge Road, Taunton, TA2 7PU
This is our informal end of term Play through to which family, friends and anyone interested in the orchestra are welcome.
