Richard Holloway to read at CD launch event

Writer, broadcaster and former Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway, is to participate in a pre-Christmas event which will launch a brand new CD of Christmas music by Cadenza, one of Scotland’s finest amateur choirs.

‘Bright Star’ is a unique collection of Christmas music, mainly from Scotland, which includes 10 world premiere recordings.

The event, which takes place at St Peter’s Church, Lutton Place on Friday 16 November 2012  at 7 pm, will give a taster of music from the CD, interspersed with readings of and reflections on Christmas poetry by Richard Holloway.

The event is free of charge with a collection in support of Waverley Care, Scotland’s leading HIV and Hepatitis C charity. One of the carols (‘There’s a Song in the Air’ – John Hearne) was the winner of the audience prize in the charity’s Sing a New Song Christmas carol writing competition and has subsequently been published by Oxford University Press.

Richard Holloway said:- “As a long-term supporter of Waverley Care, I am delighted to be participating in this event to launch ‘Bright Star’ and welcome the opportunity to read some inspirational poems to complement this fascinating collection of carols.”

A number of the composers will be in attendance, including Ken Johnston, John Hearne and Ben Parry, co-founder of The Dunedin Consort, whose carol gives its name to the title of the CD. The launch event includes the world premiere live performance of Ben’s carol, ‘Bright Star’.

‘Bright Star’ is already being well-received in the musical community. John Rutter, the UK’s most popular composer of Christmas music, who is also a supporter of Waverley Care, has said of the CD “This is the perfect album to refresh your Christmas celebrations. Cadenza have truly captured a new Christmas spirit.”

For further information please contact: Karen Docwra at Waverley Care 0131 556 9710 karen.docwra@waverleycare.org

Submitted by Karen Docwra