Cantiones is a mixed voice choir of 34 singers based in the Shropshire market town of Oswestry. The choir performs four main concerts per year under the baton of distinguished composer and conductor Martin Bussey. In addition, we organise an annual Come and Sing event and also take part in community activities.
We sing a wide range of music from all periods, and work hard to maintain a high standard of performance.
Our concerts aim to be both uplifting and enjoyable for audience and choir, and we look for the same mix in our rehearsals. Our Musical Director is firmly of the view that rehearsals should be positive experiences.
Cantiones is accompanied in rehearsal by Steve Owens, whilst well-known Oswestry musician and former musical director Christopher Symons accompanies us in performance.
We celebrated our 40th Anniversary in 2022.
History
Cantiones performing at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, 1990.
Cantiones was founded in 1982 by Michael Smith, the then organist of the Parish Church of St. Oswald, King & Martyr, Oswestry. Under its original name "Cantiones Sacrae" the choir comprised 15 voices and set its sights on performing some of the more challenging music in the chamber choir repertoire.
Before long it swelled to well over 20 voices and concerts were given as far afield as Chester and Shrewsbury, as well as an appearance at the Llangollen International Festival. Cantiones dropped the "Sacrae" from its title in the mid-nineties when its repertoire widened to include more and more of the quality secular music available.
Over the years Cantiones has had no more than a handful of Musical Directors. Michael Smith was followed by Geoffrey Talbot, then Chris Argent, Christopher Symons and John Clenaghan, Gerry Howe, and currently it flourishes under the baton of Martin Bussey. At the present time Cantiones is considered to be towards the top of the premier division of choirs in the area.