dorset-based vocal ensemble

Founded in 2004, this East-Dorset-based singing ensemble enjoys nothing more than travelling around the beautiful Dorset countryside, singing in the delightful churches of Dorset and enjoying tea and cake afterwards! We cover a varied range of singing styles from baroque and sacred pieces to complex folk arrangements, spirituals to fabulous arrangements of twentieth century songs; close harmony, a cappella or with piano accompaniment.

Canzonetta presents four concerts each year and our adventures thus far have taken us through East Dorset, the Isle of Purbeck and even as far as Jersey. En route this not-for-profit organisation raises funds to support the local community. If you would like to learn more or you would like to join our e-mailing list, please get in touch using the Contact Us page. We would love to hear from you. You can also follow us on Facebook.

Welcome

Previous concerts...

A full church greeted us for our Christmas Concert on Sunday 8th December 2019 at the church of The Holy Rood in Wool. . An interesting and fun programme took us on the journey from The Angel Gabriel through to the Twelve days after Christmas and culminated in mulled wine, mince pies, tea and cake! Our soloist was 15 year old William Bishop (organ) who played Festival Fanfare by Noel Rawsthorne and also carols to welcome everyone to the church. The retiring collection raised £261 for the church. This was our seventh concert at Holy Rood since we first sang there in 2008 and it was a great pleasure to sing for such an enthusiastic audience, who braved the blustery and wet December weather!

Our Autumn concert this year was held at St. Mark's Church, Swanage on Sunday 20th October 2019; a return visit after nearly ten years! It was a reflective programme of sacred song, German lied, English art songs and concluded with The King's Singers' favourite 'You are the new day' and a barbershop arrangement of 'We'll meet again'. Tea and cake in the hall afterwards rounded off a lovely afternoon with friends old and new. The retiring collection raised £250 for St. Mark's.

We were asked by a friend of Canzonetta to present a concert in Salisbury Cathedral on Saturday 6th July 2019, in memory of her late husband. It turned out to be a wonderful summer evening of music making: 70 minutes of close harmony songs and stunning flute solos by Emma Estridge. Prosecco and canapes in the cloisters finished an evening which will be long remembered!. We raised £1,600 for Salisbury Hospice.