Engagements in 2008 included a charity fundraising concert in Cheltenham at the College Chapel on April 26th, 2008.

July 2008 saw the launch of Andrew's new cd of English and American 20th century song with Signum Records, Songs of Innocence . The disc includes several world premieres as well as duets with and solo pieces by James Bowman. For further information, reviews and availability of the recording please see: http://www.signumrecords.com/

"....Swait's voice is the raison d’être of this project: .....this disc catches its uniquely fresh and limpid timbre excellently. Material (mainly English) is carefully chosen to suit the treble voice, and Swait's clean diction and unaffected directness of communication are very striking.....A highly recommendable recital" - Terry Blain, HMV CHOICE Magazine, July/August 2008

 
".... For not a single moment are any parts of these songs forced or contrived. There is a beauty about both the voices that almost deifies description. And, of course, Andrew Plant makes a sensitive accompanist. Finally, there is nothing sentimental about this CD: this is not some choir-robed starlet singing popular tear-jerkers – this is well written and well presented music at its best. The bottom line is that the title well sums up the entire project – these are ‘Songs of innocence’.    - John France, Music Web International, September 2008

Promotional concerts for this cd, with both Andrew and James Bowman, accompanied by Andrew Plant, included May 26th as part of the English Music Festival. (For further information contact: em.marshall@btinternet.com

In April Andrew was invited by Deutsche Gramophone to record with Anna Netrebko and the Prague Philharmonia & Choir in the orchestras home in Prague. The recording was part of SOUVENIRS (November 2008).

On May 8th Andrew performed the Andrew Lloyd Weber duet, Pie Jesu from his Requiem with Sarah Brightman; on the occasion of the Classical Brit Awards 2008 , at the Royal Albert Hall. The ITV broadcast of the event was on May 15th, 2008  at 10:35pm. 

Andrew also performed on tour in France July 7 – 11 ‘08, with the Chapel Choir of Cheltenham College Junior. They were based at Annecy Cheltenham’s French Twin Town in the Haute Savoie. For further details of the Cheltenham College Junior School Choir, please contact Peter Mills : mills.peter@cheltcoll.gloucs.sch.uk  T 01242 522697

On July Andrew performed in Germany as guest soloist with the Augsburg Choir in a Brahms Celebration series of concerts at Castle Dennenlohe, in Southern Germany.

In August Andrew was honoured to be the first performer at Kings Place concert hall; where he recorded for the NMC label as part of their 3CD anniversary compilation of contemporary music, to be released in 2009.

2007.....

April 2007 saw Andrew in Beijing preforming at the Presidential Palace to international dignatories and the IOC; his performance was part of a celebration by SAMSUNG of ten year forward plan of sponsorship of the Olympic Games.  Andrew was to represent SAMSUNG's vision of the spirit of the games Peace, Unification and Dreams.  He was invited as a singer because of his link to China through his Mandarin studies and the support he gives to the children of a remote village in Guangzhou province through the sales of his first solo cd Light of the World.

In May 2007, on the day CHOIRBOYS finished the CAROLS ALBUM, Andrew flew to Poland to join the Regency Voices on their very successful tour to Krakow and Kiev Ukraine. The Kiev concerts were broadcast on state radio and attended by a large contingent of dignitaries including the British Council and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Flowers were sent from the office the Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko. Andrew will again be joining the Regency voices who have been invited now to give a concert at Easter at the Ukrainian Cathedral in central London because of the success of the tour.

As a member of THE CHOIRBOYS Andrew appeared on ITV Look North on December 3rd, GMTV on December 6th, on Classic FM ‘In Conversation With’ on December 9th, Loose Women ITV on December 18th, in London on December 12th at St James' for Carols at Christmas and on ITV West Christmas Special Live from the Queen's Hotel Cheltenham on December 21st. On December 15th and 19th Andrew was guest soloist with Cheltenham Bach Choir for two Christmas Concerts at St Peter’s Church Winchcombe, Gloucestershire and All Saints Cheltenham respectively.

December 2007 saw Andrew join forces for the second year with ‘Dec Verse’ (a small group drawn primarily from the ranks of the lay clerks of Worcester Cathedral Choir), to offer seasonal music and readings at three concerts in Worcestershire and Shropshire.

 

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