St Mary's Calne
On Friday 25th March, St Mary’s Concert Artists took part in a very special event at Bowood House, by kind invitation of Lady Lansdowne. The selected musicians were keen to sing, even on the first day of the Easter holiday, which was very heartening!
The Marchioness of Lansdowne made her Declaration and acceptance of the appointment of High Sheriff at Bowood House Chapel, taking over from the outgoing High Sheriff, Sir Charles Hobhouse Bt. Over 80 guests attended the ceremony and a moving arrangement of the Intermezzo from Cavalliera Rusticana by Bethan Dudley Fryar and a soaring brand new descant for I Vow to thee my Country by Dr Daisy Gibbs showcased the choir’s beautiful voices, with Marie-Claire Arthur accompanying. The voices were quite stunning in the beautiful acoustic of the orangery and it was a ceremony to remember. The theme for this Shrieval year is ‘Home’ and Lady Lansdowne said 'Sadly a happy home is not a reality for so many families and individuals in Wiltshire and I hope to support and encourage all the wonderful organisations that help turn lives around and make that basic human right achievable.'