Here are some of the comments we received from audience members when on tour.
October 2000
"Even in October, Fotheringhay church is colder inside than out. The Stonehaven Chorus immediately warmed its audience with a glowing performance of two movements from Rachmaninov's Vespers. This small chamber choir sings with impressive confidence and clarity. Their programme of Words and Music from the Northlands included challenging and unusual works of modern Scandinavian composers as well as a moving arrangement of Sibelius's Finlandia. Their conductor John Hearne arranged the most memorable and unusual item. 'The Seagull' takes a Gaelic folk song and creates an atmospheric tone poem of magical sounds, truly evocative of the rocky harbour of Stonehaven. "
Liz Adinall - Fotheringhay Church.
"I can honestly say that we, southerners, have rarely experienced such a varied, interesting and polished musical event in our church. In the days following the concert I met parishioners who were extremely pleased and generous with their praise, describing the performance as 'brilliant', 'beautiful', 'professional' and so accomplished.The folk of Elham wish to say 'well done' and a heartfelt 'thank you' to John Hearne and all members of the Stonehaven Chorus for travelling so far to entertain us. We now have a special link with musical friends in Scotland who will, we hope, return one day"
The Rev Canon Jonathon V H Russell, Elham Parish Church
Easter 2005
"On April 1, I took a little quiet time in Hereford Cathedral. It turned out to be far more than that. I am primarily a jazz and soul music person, and my only previous experience of choral music had been limited to the Christmas radio broadcast from King's College Chapel, a sort of seasonal background to a great deal of cooking. A seamless sound and pleasant, but rather monotonous for my own taste. On this occasion, however, I was lucky enough to catch a concert given by the Stonehaven Choir.
Their first number, A Delyn Aur, moved me to tears. Each voice had its own individual sweetness and strength, quite distinct from the others, yet harmonising wonderfully, creating the most subtle resonances within the soundbox of the old stones. Does the Cathedral have exceptional acoustic properties? Such amazing changes. The overall sound, balanced but dynamic, had the same effect on me as Gorecki's 3rd symphony, a lifting of the spirit and beyond the ordinary. Harp of God is right.
I now understand the purpose of sacred music. It cleanses the mind and soothes the spirit. To quote from one of the readings - in themselves a work of art - "There is not any musical instrument comparable to the voices of men.."
Congratulations to the Choir and to the Choirmaster, your music has been a personal revelation to me. Also to the Cathedral, always, for creating the possibility of such revelations in such a great building surrounded by cascades of Easter lilies. These things make the rest of the world more bearable."
Sue Bradshaw, Hereford Cathedral