Y - Issue 246 - November 27, 2012 - Y-oman.com

November 27, 2012 Issue 246
THE BEST OF BRITTEN
A group of amateur singers are thrown together for
intensive training before belting out a series songs at a big
end of year performance. No, not the plot Glee but the story
of the Muscat Singers.
Words: James Montague and Chris Fisher
Photos: Jerzy Wierzbicki
Gwen Willson is extremely excited.
The musical director is just a few weeks
away from seeing her Muscat Singers
from finally performing their one-off Winter
Concert 2012 on December 7.
“Oh my gosh, there is such a buzz in our
choir!” she exclaims when asked about the
performance. She’s right to be excited.
The Muscat Singers is a community choir
that has been running for almost four
decades and has become something of
an institution in Oman. As a community
choir there is not a single professional
singer. Instead it is made up of volunteers
who give up their time to sing. No one is
turned away based on ability. Think Glee
meets the crowd at a Pavarotti concert
and you are almost there. But this year
Willson believes the Muscat Singers will
give their best performance ever, thanks to
the inclusion of a few more contemporary
22
numbers. “I try to keep it pretty eclectic,
knowing people’s backgrounds and love
of certain types of music I put in a lot of
traditional choral music and I try to put
in some contemporary things,” she says
when asked what music will be sung at
the concert. “We are doing Billy Joel Good
Night My Angel. A gorgeous six-part
choral arrangement.”
The Muscat Singers is open for anyone
to join and it took Gwen little under three
months to whip the current group of
amateurs in to shape. “We have a season
of twelve weeks and sing twelve pieces so
we try to mix up some easy ones with hard
ones. We are attempting a beautiful piece
by Benjamin Britten this year with a harp
and a boys’ choir. It’s lush and ethereal.”
The Muscat Singers aren’t just a choir.
They’re also a social group that helps
newcomers acclimatise to their new
surroundings. But on December 7 it will
all be about the music. That doesn’t mean
that she’s not on the look-out still for new
members. It’s a female heavy group that is
always looking for more male singers. But
don’t worry if you feel your voice isn’t up
to it.
“Singing is so natural,” says Gwen. “It’s
not about reading music. Do you feel
the music Do you feel it’s expressing
something You’ll find a way through it. It’s
not about the black and white notes on the
page.”
Muscat Singers perform at the Bosch
Centre for the Performing Arts at TAISM
on December 7, 4pm. Tickets cost OR3
for adults, and OR2 for seniors. Tickets
can be bought from the venue or by
calling 9557 4887. If you are interested in
joining the choir, visit their website www.
muscatsingers.com