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Photo: Anna Berry

“I was thrilled at the sound the choir made… you have some excellent singers and together make a beautiful sound” Lesley Garrett CBE

“A fine chamber choir” Stephen Cleobury, Director of Music, King’s College Cambridge

Our next concert:

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Our patron Lesley Garrett perform in at Bedford Proms in the Park #livemusic #lesleygarrett #promsinthepark #livemusic

A word from our md @jessicanortonvocals about our upcoming concert. Saturday 14th June at 4 pm. To be held at St George’s Wolverton. MK12 5EX Have you got your tickets yet? Go to polymnia.org for availability #chamberchoir #choralmusic #miltonkeynesmusic #livemusic #voices #livevoices #chambermusic #lovemusic #summermusic #polymnia_choir

What exciting news about our patron Lesley Garrett CBE Lesley Garrett CBE, one of the world’s most celebrated classical singers and acclaimed British soprano is announced today as the newest cast member to join Northern Ireland Opera’s historic revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies at the Grand Opera House in Belfast this Autumn.

Garrett’s prestigious and varied international career is spread across many genres including leading roles in opera and musical theatre. This year marks her 45th anniversary in the industry, which will see her step into an iconic role to play opera diva Heidi Schiller in this musical masterpiece about a group of former showgirls of the famous Weismann Follies. Upon returning after thirty years with their partners to their beloved decaying Broadway theatre for one final reunion before demolition, old connections stir and rivalries flare. By the time they all leave their world’s will have shifted: will anything be the same again?

Anna-Jane Casey and Annette McLaughlin star as former roommates Sally Plummer and Phyllis Stone. Mark Dugdale and Alasdair Harvey appear as best friends Buddy Palmer and Benjamin Stone. Allison Harding plays Hattie Walker, the tough-talking showgirl who delivers the showstopping number “Broadway Baby.” Additional casting to be announced.

This epic new production, directed by Northern Ireland Opera’s Artistic Director Cameron Menzies, marks the first professional staging of the musical in Northern Ireland and the first UK revival in eight years. Musical Director Greg Arrowsmith will lead the Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera, a full-scale ensemble of 35 local instrumentalists.

The creative team also includes choreographer Jennifer Rooney and set designer Niall McKeever, marking his fifth collaboration with the company.

Programme:
Stars: Ēriks Ešenvalds (with the magical sound of tuned wine glasses)
Sing to the moon: Laura Mvula
If ye love me: Thomas Tallis
Cantate Domino: Claudio Monteverdi
Locus iste: Anton Bruckner
O most merciful: Charles Wood
Abendlied: Josef Rheinberger
Kaval sviri: Trad. Bulgarian
Calon lan: Trad. Welsh
Faire is the heaven: William Harris
Lux aeterna: Edward Elgar
Ubi caritas: Ola Gjeilo
Sleep: Eric Whitacre
Only in sleep: Ēriks Ešenvalds
Lay a garland: Robert Pearsall
The silver swan: Orlando Gibbons
The road home: Stephen Paulus
And so it goes: Billy Joel, arr. Bob Chilcott
Our choir members all have their favourites. Which one is yours? Join us to find your new favourite choral arrangement #livevoices #livemusic #miltonkeynesmusic #chamberchoir #voices #localmusic

Polymnia Gold
Saturday 14 June, 4.00pm
St George’s Church, Wolverton, MK12 5EX
Polymnia, Musical Director @jessicanortonvocals

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear the very best of Polymnia’s favourite choral pieces, and the stories which we have to tell about them. Also, did you know that we have some very talented bakers amongst our singers? So far we have been promised the following home-made cakes: walnut shortbread, lemon drizzle, chocolate cake, banana bread, flapjacks, chocolate cornflake clusters, and lemon sponge with icing. Gluten free people will be spoiled for choice: GF chocolate cake, cupcakes, carrot cake, and almond fairy buns with raspberries. All this, and tea or coffee, is included in your ticket price (just £14 if bought by 1 June)!

Pure Polymnia. No bells or whistles just the pure sound of the 21 voices that make up Polymnia_choir. Only a few days left to get your early bird discounted tickets.
Get your tickets from polymnia.org.uk #choralmusic #chamberchoir #acapela #purevoices #miltonkeynesmusic #livemusic

These guys! Fine tuning the magnificent Calon Lan for your enjoyment next month. Have you got your tickets yet? Remember early bird discounts are available until June 1st. @polymnia_choir on June 14th at 4pm. Held at St George’s Wolverton MK12 5EX tickets available from website. polymnia.org.uk #choralmusic #chamberchoir #livemusic #miltonkeynesmusic #voices #livemusic #summermusic #chambermusic #lovemusic

Which is better music or cake? If you like us can’t decide come along to our next concert and you won’t need to. Exquisite music including Lay a Garland by Pearsell, Faire is the Heaven by Harris and Sing to the Moon by Laura Mvula to name just a few. Followed by Tea and home made cakes. Sounds perfect to us. Why not join us on Saturday June 14th at 4pm at St George’s, Wolverton MK12 5EX early bir tickets available until June 1st. Get yours on polymnia.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you there #chamberchoir #choralmusic #acapella #summermusic #voices #miltonkeynesmusic #musicandcake

Onward and upwards. First rehearsal tonight for our summer concert. Featuring just pure @polymnia_choir favourites. Magical unaccompanied music that we love to sing. Dipping into our most loved composers in our archives. A real trip down memory lane. We look forward to sharing it with you.

Memories from last Saturdays spring concert. Conducted by @jessicanortonvocals and featuring @fenellaviolin and @ensembleperpetuo. What a magical afternoon featuring music by @jakerunestad @ericwhitacre and many others. Keep your eye out for details of our summer concert. #choralmusic #chamberchoir #thelarkascending #ericwhitacre #jakerunestad #miltonkeynesmusic #livemusic #voices

A word about Saturdays concert from our MD @jessicanortonvocals

We are so excited to be performing our spring concert with the amazing @fenellaviolin and her string quartet. It is packed full of amazing music including a choral version of the iconic Lark Ascending. Also @ericwhitacre moving Hebrew Love songs. Hurry to buy your tickets as they are selling fast. @jessicanortonvocals conducting. #choralmusic #thelarkascending #stringquartet #miltonkeynesmusic #livevoices #livemusic

Happy new year to all our followers. Thank you for your support over the last year. We have loved bringing music to you some pieces that are old favourites of ours and yours and also new pieces that we hope have become new favourites. We are so excited to share with you some of our plans for the coming season of music making. But in the meantime here are the important dates to add to your 2025 diaries so you don’t miss a thing. We look forward to seeing you there. Happy musical 2025 with love from us all.

https://youtu.be/Cxs90PQ7LOo?si=axBEH5Z9-A1Ide8G On the run up to Christmas we would like to share a few songs from our recent concert. We hope you enjoy them.

The sublime No Small Wonder composed by local musician Paul Edwards. What a joy to sing this was. #chamberchoir #christmasmusic #christmasconcert #christmaschoral #choralmusic

These reviews really do mean the world to us. It is wonderfull to hear that our audience enjoy listening to our music as much as we do performing it.

What an incredible week. Starting last Saturday with our concert the sublime Brahms Requiem and ending with these wonderful words. Feedback from our audience really does mean the world. To hear they enjoyed the concert as much as we did means everything to us. Onwards and upwards Christmas rehearsal starts tonight

Looking for something different this Christmas? A change from all the bells and whistles? Something more meaningful and meditative? If the answer to this is yes then come and join us for our candlelit concert. Sublime music in a magical atmosphere
See flyer or our website for all the details
polymnia.org.uk @jessicanortonvocals

A word from our MD @jessicanortonvocals about our upcoming concert on 9th November at 7.30pm to be held at St Barnabas Linslade LU7 2NR including. Brahms sublime Requiem. We would love to see you there. Please go to our new website for more details and tickets https://www.polymnia.org.uk/

Just in case you didn’t know. We can provide music for weddings, christenings or other occasions. Please contact us for more details These messages mean the world to us. It is very special being a part of couples wedding ceremonies. We have just got back from honeymoon and just wanted to send a proper message to say thank for singing at our wedding. The Gjeilo and the Whitacre were absolutely beautiful, It meant a huge huge amount to me to have you singing on our wedding day, many people, commenting on how fantastic and enjoyable the music was. Thank you again for making it such a fabulous service.

We are very proud that all the vocal solos in our concerts are sung by members of the choir. That includes the exquisite solos in our upcoming performance of Brahams’ sublime Requiem. Hurry early bird tickets still available see our website for details https://www.polymnia.org.uk/ #brahamsrequiem #miktonkeynesmusic #chamberchoir #livevoices #livemusic

First rehearsal ☑️ Brahms beautiful requiem with our good friend Craig Green on the piano. What could be more sublime for our autumn concert. Hurry to make the most of early bird discounts on tickets as they are going fast #miltonkeynesmusic #choralmusic #chamberchoir #livemusic #chambermusic #mkmusic #mkchoir #miltonkeyneschoir

We are so excited to share with you our beautiful new website https://www.polymnia.org.uk/ after lots of discussions we feel it reflects perfectly Polymnia in 2024. It contains all the information about our upcoming concerts. Plus details about our musical director @jessicanortonvocals and a trip down memory lane with recordings from some of our previous engagements. A huge thank you to @annaberryphotography for the stunning new images. We hope you enjoy it. #miltonkeynesmusic #chamberchoir #livemusic #choralmusic #accappella

Two weeks today we start rehearsing for this amazing piece. An all time classic #brahamsrequiem. We are so excited to perform it for you on 9th November at St Barnabas Linslade. With the amazing @jessicanortonvocals and Craig Green on the piano. Watch this space for more details. #chamberchoir #miltonkeynesmusic #livemusic #choralmusic #choir #chamberchoir #choirandpiano #brahams #elgar #mahler

At Polymnia we are blessed with working with some of the top pianists and organists around. We never rake this for granted and would like to take this opportunity to thank the three talented gentlemen we performed with over the last year. Mr @organistpaul Mr @alexaitken91 and Nr Craig Green. We hope our paths cross again soon. #pianists #organists #chambermusic #chamberchoir #choralmusic #dreamteam #miltonkeynesmusic

Here is Craig Greene the amazing pianist who will be playing for our summer concert to be held on 6th July at St Mary’s and St Giles Stony Stratford.
Have you got your tickets yet? Early bird discount available until 22nd June so hurry hurry.
Looking forward to seeing you there. #pianist #livemusic #miltonkeynesmusic #chamberchoir #choralmusic #summermusic #lovemusic

What a fun time we had in Italy. Lots of pizza, pasta, ice cream and oh yes singing!!!! #choirontour #singinginitaly #chamberchoir #choralmusic #livemusic #voices

When in Italy. Pizza, Pasta, Ice cream and sublime music. #choirontour #livemusic #choralmusic #chambermusic #miltonkeynesmusic

Our summer concert explores the many aspects of love, in different eras and cultures. This musical journey takes you from the romantic love of a 16th century Spanish poet to the thrilling rhythms of contemporary America. On the way we will hear an exciting Bulgarian folk tune, a sweet song from a mother to her newborn child, and a lyrical Welsh rugby anthem. Leonard Cohen’s enigmatic Hallelujah, sacred music, and songs celebrating the beauty of nature, add to the rich variety of our sound world. See previous post for details of dates and ticket sales. #lifesjourney #journeythroughmusic #chamberchoir #miltonkeynesmusic #choralmusic #musicforasummersevening #livevoices #livemusic #lovemusic #lovesongs

At last we can share with you our summer concert details. We are embracing all things on ‘Loves Journey’ from Mendelssohn to @ola.gjeilo and many other wonderful composers and song writers along the way. Please come and join us at St Mary’s and St Giles Stony Stratford in 6th July 2024 at 7.30pm #chamberchoir #choralmusic #summerconcerts #livemusic #miltonkeynesmusic #voices #musicoflove

A few pictures from yesterday’s rehearsal before our spring concert. What a beautiful day spent singing beautiful music. Thank you to the wonderful @alexaitken91 whose talent on the piano is unbelievable and to our purely magical md @jessicanortonvocals next concert in #mantuaitaly in May. #livemusic #miltonkeynesmusic #chamberchoir #choralmusic #olagjeilo #springmusic

Nature Awakens
Saturday 13 April, 4pm
St Mary and St Giles, Stony Stratford MK11 1BD
Polymnia, director @jessicanortonvocals
with @alexaitken91 (piano)

Unveil some Spring magic with Nature Awakens. Join us before our Italian tour in June for a wonderful mix of choral music, old and new, celebrating the return of the sun and the vibrancy of the season. The main piece, Gjeilo’s dazzling Sunrise mass, is ‘a lyrical journey for the soul’; many of the other pieces have memorable melodies that will lift your spirits and linger in your heart.

Programme
Springtime mantleth every bough: Thomas Morley
In dew of roses: Thomas Morley
Now is the month of maying: Thomas Morley
Ging heut’ Morgen übers Feld: Gustav Mahler
Morning has broken: Trad. Gaelic melody, arr. Mack Wilberg
Fields of gold: Sting, arr. Philip Lawson
Wild mountain thyme: Trad., arr. Jessica Norton
The island spell: John Ireland
Lay a garland: Robert Lucas Pearsall
Sing to the moon: Laura Mvula
Omnia sol: Z. Randall Stroope
April: John Ireland
Sunrise mass: Ola Gjeilo

Tickets will be available on the door; we have a card reader machine to take card payments. Interval refreshments will be provided (donations to the church). Parking near the church in Stony Stratford at MK11 1FD and MK11 1BE is free; you can find a map here.

Future concerts
June 1st-2nd 2024: Mantua, Italy
July 6th 2024: St. Mary and St. Giles, Stony Stratford. Love’s Journey with Craig Greene
October 9th 2024: St. Barnabas, Linslade
December1st 2024: St. George’s, Wolverton
Book now
#choralmusic #chamberchoir #miltonkeynesmusic #buckinghamshiremusic #livevoices #livemusic #olagjeilo #thomasmorley ##sting #philiplawson #johnireland

Here are a few more details of our spring concert. Don’t forget early bird discounts. We would love to see you there. #livemusic #chamberchoir #choralmusic #accapella #olagjeilo #johnireland #miltonkeynesmusic #buckinghamshiremusic #pianomusic #organmusic

We are so excited to share the poster for our spring concert with you. Beautiful graphics and beautiful music. Conducted by @jessicanortonvocals accompanied by @alexaitken91 the music is sublime and we are really enjoying rehearsing it. #miltonkeynesmusic #choralsinging #chambermusic #choralvoices #buckinghamshiremusic #livemusic #voices

As our lovely Anna says on behalf of us all at Polymnia Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Thank you all for your continued support this year it really does mean the world to creat music to perform for you all.
We can’t wait to show you what we had in store for 2024.

Just two days left to get your Early Bird tickets for our Christmas concert with the wonderful Alina Orchestra and Hilary Davan Wetton. Excerpts from Messiah, Christmas concertos... let us transport you to a realm of warmth, celebration, mulled wine and mince pies. Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/classical-christmas-tickets-70582053722. #christmasconcert #christmasmusic #christmaschoral #christmasorchestral #miltonkeynesmusic #leightinbuzzard

— with Alison Young and 5 others.

We are thrilled that Paul Carr will be playing for us at our upcoming concert on 11/11/23 see posts for details
Paul Carr is based in Birmingham. He studied with Dr Roy Massey MBE at Hereford Cathedral and is a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studied with Professor David Saint and was later awarded Honorary Membership.
He performs around thirty organ
concerts each year. Past performances
include two recitals at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and in the USA in Chicago, New York and Washington DC. As soloist and choral accompanist, he has toured with choirs across Europe.
Paul’s recent engagements include recitals in Westminster Abbey, St Sebastian Magdeburg, St David’s Hall Cardiff, Victoria Hall Hanley and cathedrals in Lichfield, Hereford, Bristol, Bangor and Leeds.
Paul’s is Musician in Residence at Holy Trinity Wordsley, Organist to St Bartholomew’s Church in Penn, Musical Director of Selly Park Singers and
Artistic Director to the Thursday Live organ recital series in St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham. He also works frequently with The Open University, The Birmingham Bach Choir, Priory Voices, Dudley Performing Arts and Walsall Music Hub.
For thirteen years Paul was Director of Music at St Paul’s, Birmingham. He is a Past President of Birmingham Organists’ Association and serves on the committees of Worcestershire Organists’ Association and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association.
paulcarr.co.uk
Organ and piano

EXCITING NEWS Our amazing md @jessicanortonvocals is moving to the Milton Keynes area and will be giving singing lessons. I know we may be bias but she really is a fantastic teacher and we can’t recommend her highly enough. #mitlonkeynesmusic #singingmiltonkeynes #vocalcoach #singinslessonsmiltonkeynes

Repose
Saturday 11 November, 19:30
St Barnabas, Linslade LU7 2NR
Polymnia with Jessica Norton (director) and Paul Carr (organ)

Our autumn concert explores the universal, timeless themes of stillness, meditation, and peace through the lens of a range of composers old and new. At the heart of the programme is the Duruflé Requiem, which offers profound beauty and consolation with melodies that sink into your soul.

Programme
Herbert Sumsion: They that go down to the sea in ships
John Tavener: Song for Athene
George Thalben-Ball: Elegy
Orlando Gibbons:The silver swan
Heinrich Schütz: Selig sind die Toten
George Frederik Handel: Ombra mai fu (from Xerxes)
Robert Parsons: Ave Maria
Edward Elgar arr. John Cameron: Lux aeterna (Nimrod from Enigma Variations)
Duruflé: Requiem
#choralmusic #chamberchoir #livemusic #livevoices #miltonkeynesmusic #accapella #concerts #durufflerequiem #duruffle

After a very busy season and a great trip to @edfringe we at @polymnia_choir are enjoying a few weeks break. We are back to rehearsing Friday 1st September for our Autumn concert which will feature Durufle”s Requiem. If you are a tenor and are looking for a choir to join please contact us, we would love to hear from you. Watch this space for more details on this seasons concerts. #chamberchoir #livemusic #miltonkeynesmusic #choralmusic #lovesinging #joyofsinging

We are so excited to be travelling north next weekend to bring beautiful music to @edfringe we have a series of three concerts on 7/8/9th at the wonderful St Andrews and St George’s West Venue 111 at 12.30. A great way to fill your lunchtime. We would love to see you there #edfringe2023 #chamberchoir #accapella #livemusic #voices #musicinscotland #musicinedinburgh @jessicanortonmusic @ginajohnson494 @chriscrispussinger @sopiatra @weeannabee @louisejanenorwood @chalmersmalcolm @laurenceh21

I just wanted to convey my congratulations to you, Jess and all choir members in the magnificent concert my wife and I had the pleasure of listening to yesterday evening.

Having been invited to your practice session a week or so ago in Bow BrickhilI was not sure what to expect but I found the experience quite moving in that the sound produced by such an accomplished and talented group of singers was simply astounding and by the end of the evening I felt quite privileged to have been invited to sit in.

From a position of being embedded within the choir, listening to each and everyone one of you perform, I was interested in experiencing the harmonies produced by your choir from an audience perspective and was simply 'blown away' by your exquisite voices and interpretations of the music performed.

Anna? (wearing the dark spectacles) - your solo was spellbinding with your voice soaring up to the roof and coming down to envelope the audience who were so quiet and respectful to your talent that one could have heard a pin drop!

Enjoy the Edinburgh Fringe and I have no doubt you will 'wow!' the festival audiences wherever you perform. #feedback #audienceappreciation #kindwords #choralmusic #chamberchoir #accapella #lovesinging #keepthemusiclive #buckinghamshiremusic #miltonkeynesmusic

We are proud at @polymnia_choir that all our solo performers are from within the choir. #livemusic #supportlocalmusicians #buckinghamshiremusic #miltonkeynesmusic #chamberchoir #choralmusic #accapella #keepmusiclive

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@polymnia_choir

Haunting Harmonies
a choral celebration of Halloween

Saturday 18 October 2025, 4pm at St Mary and St Giles, Stony Stratford

With Craig Greene (piano) and Milton Keynes Youth Choir (director David Anstice-Pim)

PROGRAMME

Daemon irrepit callidus Orban – Crucifixus Lotti – O vos omnes (1572 version) Victoria – Come away death Mantyjarvi – Double double, toil and trouble Mantyjarvi – The witch Stanford – Funeral Blues Benjamin Britten – Defying gravity Schwartz arr. Emerson – Dies irae Verdi – The unquiet grave Vaughan Williams – Der Geistertanz Schubert – I Put a Spell on you Annie Lennox – Bring me to life Evanescence arr. Jessica Norton – Smooth criminal Michael Jackson arr. Jessica Norton – Phantom of the opera medley Lloyd Webber arr. Lojeski