Choir & Organ - January/February 2024

In the January/February issue of Choir & Organ we meet The Marian Consort, the UK vocal ensemble whose aims to attract new audiences and to encourage emerging composers to explore writing for voices make it an ideal partner for our 2024 New Music series.

Composer Marcus Rock introduces the score to our first commission of the year – Toe by Toe for unaccompanied mixed voice choir – now available to download and perform.

Elsewhere, we find out how Belgian organ builder Joris Potvlieghe set about creating a replica of a 1763 Contius organ in a suburb of Ghent, including sourcing the right kind of French oak and metals.

As Ton Koopman approaches his 80th birthday, the Dutch organist-conductor and Baroque specialist reflects on his career, discusses the role of a conductor in performances and recordings, and picks his favourite organs in Europe.

Plus, Lucy Walker explains how to thrive as a composer-in-residence; Ben Parry speaks to David Hill about the importance of getting young people singing; Richard Brasier explores the significance of Cavaillé-Coll’s organ in Saint-Denis and the historical context in which it was built; and our guide to organ and choral competitions in 2024.