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Choirs raise funds for Charity Appeal at Caldicot Choir Hall

Photographs taken by Colleen Gauntlett.  Please left click on the images to enlarge.

 

For the past four years Caldicot Male Voice Choir has held a St David’s Day concert at its Choir Hall in Caldicot to raise funds for deserving causes.  This year it was pleased to invite local Durand School Choir as its special guests to help the Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council, Mr Jim Higginson’s appeal for The St. David’s Foundation and Tŷ Hafan Trust, a children’s hospice in Sully, near Barry.

Among the invited guests were the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE, the High Sheriff of Gwent,  Mr Anthony John Clay as well as the Mayors of Monmouth, Merthyr CBC and Torfaen and Monmouthshire Councillor Mr Brian Strong.

Over seventy members of Caldicot Male Voice Choir took to the stage on the evening.  Conducted by Siân Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied by Stephen Berry and John Nicholson the Choir entertained the capacity audience to a wide mix of choral songs including Welsh items Rachie, Yfory, Aberystwyth, Gwahoddiad, O Gymru (soloist Tommy Hole) and for the first time for many years, the traditional song Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn.  Also included were The Rose, The Lord’s Prayer by Schubert, Troyte’s Chant of Eli Jenkins’Prayer as well as songs from the world of film such as On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady and The Way We Were from the 1973 film of the same name.  The programme also included the rousing spiritual Ride the Chariot featuring soloists Siân Hatton and David Gould.

The School Choir of 25 children delighted the audience with a range of Welsh and English songs, opening with Myfanwy followed by  Heno, heno, Calon Lân, Ar Hyd y Nos and Sosban Fach.  Included in their programme was Max Boyce favourite, Swansea Town, The Streets of London, My Lighthouse , Somewhere Out There from the animated film An American Tail and finalising with a medley of songs from Abba – Waterloo, Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia which had the audience enthusiastically tapping its feet.

The musical direction and tutelage of Head teacher Allison Waters and the musical staff of Durand School, Deputy Head Mr Anthony Moses, guitarist Mr Will Maragon and pianist, retired Deputy Head, Mrs Marilyn Modget can be rightly proud of their talented young Choir.

This was also the first concert of new recruits second tenor Andy Friedman and two bottom basses Oliver Edwards and Peter Fagan.  Well done all, may this be the first of many.

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St David’s Day Cake for Choristers

On Monday. as a prelude to the St David’s Day concert tonight and the Annual Concert on April 8th, Colleen Gauntlett brought along her home made cake as a treat and reward for all the choristers’ and Music Team’s hard work in practice.

 

She knows how much the Choir appreciates her cakes as shown by the smiles on the faces. Looking forward to tonight’s concert with Durand School at the Choir Hall (sold out) and the Annual Concert at the Leisure Centre with tenors Rhys Meirion, Aled Wyn Davies, soprano Shân Cothi and host Rebecca John..

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Sad News to start the year

The choir is saddened on two counts so far this year.

 

David Scott, Bottom Bass

 

 

Firstly long standing chorister of over thirty years, bottom bass David Scott informed us that due to continuing ill health he has reluctantly decided to retire from the choir.  A native of Scotland Dave, also known as Davy or Dai, is an adopted Welshman and though diminutive in physical stature his presence and support as a chorister was huge.  Presented last year with a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award and honorary vice presidency for his services to the choir both as a loyal chorister and committee member, Davy will be sorely missed in the front row of the bottom basses.  We wish him well in his retirement and we hope to see him popping into the choir hall as often as he can.

 

 

Doug Taylor, 2nd tenor

 

On an even more tragic note, the choir was informed by chairman Mark Stocker that another long standing chorister of over thirty years, Doug Taylor passed away on 8th January.  Doug had suffered from illness for several years but nevertheless never let this interfere with his attendance at choir practice and concerts.  A wonderful 2nd tenor with a resounding voice and welcoming smile Doug. like so many of our choristers was a caring and loyal gentleman, well liked and respected by all who knew him.

 

He spent many years as a committee member and not only organised the fund raising 200 club, each week announcing the names of the winners but was also the Choir’s Welfare Officer catering for needs of choristers and their families with problems relating to the choir and sending out flowers and sympathies to those needing care and support.  He will like David, be sorely missed.  Our thoughts go out to his wife Gill and his family at this very sad  time  Rest in Peace.

 

On an even more poignant note, we have learned from Doug’s family that Thursday 12th January was his wife Gill’s 80th birthday which they planned to celebrate together.  Not only that but next week they would have celebrated 60 loving and caring years of marriage.  Gill was also a lifelong supporter of the choir not only in coming to many concerts but was also a committed fund raiser at many of our charity functions and social events.

 

 

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November 5th Wedding. Kelly gets her Guy

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Photo by Lyn Gauntlett.  Left click on image to enlarge

 

The choir loves to sing at weddings when it can and one of its favourite venues is the local St Mary the Virgin church in Caldicot.

On a chilly but sunny November 5th some fifty choristers were delighted to sing at the wedding of Kristian David Chown to Kelly Mary Sheppard.  Kristian is the grandson of once long serving baritone chorister David Chown who sadly passed away about six years ago.

Conducted by Shirley Anne James and accompanied by Stephen Berry the choir entertained the congregation by opening with the Welsh hymn Rachie and followed up by singing  wedding favourites You Raise Me up, Somewhere Out There and On the Street where you Live while waiting for the bride to come in and finalising with the Elvis hit, Can’t help falling in Love and the modern Welsh song Yfory while the newlyweds signed the register.

The Choir joined in enthusiastically with hymns Bread of Heaven (Cwm Rhondda) and Lord of the Dance sung during the ceremony while Father Dennis Richards officiated.

The Choir would like to wish Kristian and Kelly a long, healthy and happy life together and convey its congratulations to you both.

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Choir travels to Harbury for Charity Concert

 

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett.  Left click on an image to enlarge.

 

On Saturday 15th October over 50 members of Caldicot Male Voice Choir travelled up the modern M50 and M5 motorways before following in the footsteps of the ancient Romans along the Fosse Way to the picturesque All Saint’s Church in the village of Harbury, near Leamington Spa. This was the choir’s third visit to the church and our concert this time was to raise funds for the church’s Memorial Garden of Remembrance project and also to help the Harbury e-wheels scheme.  This worthwhile endeavour uses the villages E-car Club members cars to transport those with physical or financial reasons who have little or no other transport options at no cost.  The scheme works with local agencies such as Food Banks, Children’s Centres, Surgeries and Social Services.

Conducted by Siân Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied throughout by John Nicholson on piano, the choir presented the enthusiastic audience of about 200 to a wide mix of genres and styles from our repertoire, including oppening with the well known Welsh hymns Rachie, Aberystwyth and the English favourite of John Wesley, Morte Criste (When I Survey the Wond’rous Cross).  The programme also included music from the film and theatre worlds including The Lady is a Tramp, The Impossible Dream, The Rhythm of Life, On the Street Where You Live and Somewhere Out There. The pace changed from the love song made famous by Bette Midler, The Rose to the Elvis Presley version of An American Trilogy and Barbra Streisand’s The Way we Were.  Mindful that the 14th October was the 103rd anniversary of the Senghenydd Mining disaster in which 440 Welsh Miners were tragically killed and also close to the 50th Anniversary on 21st October of the Aberfan disaster, the choir movingly sang A Miner’s Song written by Dan and Laura Curtis, appreciated by everyone present.

The concert was delightfully enhanced by the support of local 16 year old Lucy Bishop who only took up playing the harp less than 2 years ago after seeing the Nutcracker Suite ballet. Still at school, studying for A levels, Lucy has been accepted into the Junior Royal School of Music.  Her first half performance on a full sized Italian concert harp, expertly played at a level well above her age and experience included Clement: Sonatina – Allegro, Andante and Vivace and the Skye Boat Song.  No less wonderfully played, the second half included Pachelbel’s – Canon in D, Yiruma – River flows in you, featured on the album ‘First Love’ and an Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol member Johnny McDaid composition – Photograph.  The Choir and audience responded to Lucy’s performance with several rounds of rapturous applause throughout and at the end of the concert.

The concert, organised by chorister Terry Plummer’s daughter Julie Linforth who lives in the village, closed with Ride the Chariot with soloists Siân Hatton and David Gould followed by the modern Welsh song, extolling the virtues of living in Wales, O Gymru with soloist Tommy Hole.

We all look forward to re-visiting Harbury in the not too distant future, not least following the warm welcome and reception we have always received in this wonderful venue.

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Stormy Weather Charity Ride for Choir Cyclists

Caldicot Male Voice Choir is well known for and is proud of its charity fund raising efforts through its concerts over many years and has raised several hundreds of thousands of pound in its history.  It continues to be active in this through its charity concert programmes over the year.  To enhance its endeavours it formed a cycling club five years ago for choristers and guests to enjoy social cycling and help worthy causes.  The Choir also has a golf society with the same aims of a different social face to the choir and also to raise money for charity.

In the past 5 years the choir, through its cycling club and golf society has raised about £30000 for local charities including Prostate Cymru, Sparkle, local Caldicot toddler Annalese Gosling, the Victims of Chernobyl Childrens’ Trust and this year is concentrating its efforts to help the Cardiff branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association to buy essential equipment and services for sufferers of this terrible disease.

The cycle club, Côr Meibion Caldicot Cycle Club has already held a sponsored Endurance ride at Redwick which has raised over £1000 for the charity and on Saturday 20th August it organised a sponsored 65  mile ride from Hay on Wye to Caldicot.  The group of 12 intrepid cyclists and its support team set out in atrocious weather to Hay on Wye and undaunted by the severe weather conditions pedalled the route from Hay on Wye, through the Golden Valley to Abbey Dore, past the slopes of the Skirrid and against the storms and wind to Abergavenny and then on to Usk for lunch.  The gales and driving rain were unrelenting but nevertheless the cyclists, now soaked to the skin continued their journey on through Usk to Langstone and on to Redwick to partially dry out, warm up and get a meal at the welcoming Rose Inn.

Suitably refreshed and heartened, the 12 cyclists and support team then braved the worsening weather to make the final stage of the journey through the Caldicot levels to the Choir Hall at Caldicot, dead on time to be greeted by the choir supporters.  The day was rounded off with a celebratory evening of food and music to celebrate not only the endeavours of the cyclists but also to thank the choir for its efforts towards its entry to the National Eisteddfod at Abergavenny.  To date the Choir members and cyclists have raised nearly £2000 to help The Motor Neurone Disease Research Association.

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Choir sings at Luke and Sarah Jayne’s Wedding

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett.   Left click on images to view

 

Last year almost to the day,  Caldicot Male Voice Choir was proud to have sang at St Mary’s in Magor for the wedding of Joanne Hunt to John Sabin on a glorious August day at St Mary’s church in Magor so were were thrilled and delighted to be invited to sing at the wedding of  Sarah Jayne Hunt, Joanne’s sister to Luke Clarke on another glorious sunny  day, Saturday 13th August at the same church

Once again, the large choir squeezed itself sideways into the pews at the side of the knave and conducted by Shirley Anne James and accompanied by Stephen Berry on both organ and piano the choir entertained the congregation by opening with a series of romantic melodies including the Everley Brothers ‘Let it be me’, ‘Can’t help falling in love’ made famous by Elvis Presley and ‘Somewhere out There’ from the Stephen Spielberg cartoon ‘An American Tail’.  Traditionally late, the bride entered the church to the sounds of Wagner’s Bridal march.

During the service, conducted by the Reverend Jeremy Harris, the choir augmented the congregational singing of three hymns, including the all -time favourite ‘Love Divine’ as well as the lighter, joyful ‘Give me Joy in my Heart’ and finally ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine’.  While the register was being signed the choir further entertained the congregation with their versions of ‘On the Street Where You Live’ from the Broadway musical ‘My Fair Lady’ and finally rounding off with ‘You Raise Me Up’ before the bride and groom, Mr and Mrs Clarke walked down the aisle to the strains of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March to begin their new lives together.

Caldicot Male Voice Choir would like to congratulate the Bride and Groom, Sarah Jayne and Luke on their marriage and wish them a long, happy and prosperous life together.

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Choir is Proud of its Eisteddfod Performance

Photographs by Colleen Gauntlett.  Click on images to enlarge

 

For the first time since 2004, Caldicot Male Voice Choir took up the challenge to enter the National Eisteddfod, this year held at Abergavenny on Saturday 6th August.  Entry into this has meant huge amounts of organisation, dedicated practice and commitment from all of the choristers and the Musical team of Siân Hatton, Shirley Anne James, Stephen Berry and John Nicholson over the past 6 months.

Arriving in glorious Summer weather the choir had the opportunity to spend some time walking around the enormous Maes before making its way to the Pavilion to prepare for the competition against some of the leading choirs in Wales.  After suffering sweltering temperatures in the ‘holding area’ the choir took to the stage as the last of the eight competitors, nervously but with superb discipline to face an audience of self considered experts, not to mention the adjudicating panel.

Conducted by musical director Siân Hatton and accompanied by Stephen Berry, the 72 strong choir opened its performance with Schubert’s beautifully written ‘Psalm 23’ with its quietly moving cadences throughout the story.  Following enthusiastic applause the next item was the rapidly tongue twisting ‘Deryn y bwn o’r banna’, sung unaccompanied to a fast moving rhythm.  Although short, this is a technically demanding piece to maintain the pace and of course keep in tune from beginning to end.  The choir succeeded in this admirably.  The performance ended with the contrasting ‘Bywyd y Bugail’ with its changing tempo, key and volume to test any choir’s ability to sing together.  The three pieces chosen had all been included in previous Eisteddfodau as test pieces and represented a severe challenge to the choir not only in the musical interpretation but was also demanding in the language.

After leaving the stage, to loud applause the choir and its supporters took the opportunity to acquire some refreshment before the long awaited adjudication.  Finally, the adjudicators commented very favourably on our performance although the eventual winners were Côr Meibion Brythoniau. We were disappointed that we did not come away with any silverware, we all felt that we had won gold medals for the huge efforts, incredible discipline and superb musical performance on the day.  The whole choir deserves enormous praise and respect for all the hard work put in over several months which culminated in a fantastic performance and an incredible experience.  Well done all.

Footnote:

 

For two choristers, tenor Alan Loy and bass Stuart Parry, this was their first concert performance after passing their second voice test.  Well done both for what must have been a nerve racking experience which is one you’ll never forget.

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Caldicot Choir shares Cardiff stage with American Tapestry Choir

Tapestry Choir poster 3

 

 

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett. Left click on images to enlarge.

Last Thursday 30th June the choir travelled down the M4 to Cardiff to sing at the beautiful St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Roath, Cardiff with  the 1oo strong, mixed voices of the American Tapestry Choir.  The M4 signs warned us of heavy traffic due to a concert and we thought we were going to sing to a packed house.  We soon realised these were a warning for the Beyoncé concert on the same night at the Principality stadium.  Never mind.

The Tapestry Choir consists of over 100 voices drawn from all over the USA who arrived in Ireland on 26th June.  Although they have been preparing for this tour for several months, many met for the first time and rehearsals started almost as soon as they step off the planes.  On their 12 day tour, organised by UK Travel Designers in conjunction with American based Harmony International, they had already performed in Dublin and were appearing with Caldicot Male Voice Choir in Cardiff before moving on to London, Normandy and Amsterdam.  The choir is conducted by composers Joe Martin, Lloyd Larson  and Nancy Price and features members of the incredible Manassas Chorale from Virginia, including their director Becky Verner.  Their repertoire includes many popular and traditional choral pieces largely composed by Joe and Lloyd.

Caldicot Male Voice choir conducted by Siân Hatton and Shirley Anne James, accompanied by Stephen Berry and John Nicholson opened proceedings with a selection of Welsh hymns including Rachie and Gwahoddiad interspersed with American musical pieces ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ and ‘Memories’ from the film of the same name and the popular ‘A Miner’s Song’ by Dan and Laura Curtis.  This was followed by The Tapestry Choir giving superb vocal arrangements of gospel pieces and traditional spirituals including Beautiful Saviour, Bring Him Home, ‘Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free’ and ‘Praise the Lord’ a medley of compositions conducted by Lloyd Larson and a combination of Gabriel’s Oboe featuring Debbie MacDonald on flute before blending into the hymn  ‘This is my Father’s World’.

The second half opened with the Tapestry choir giving once again fabulous musical arrangements of traditional American songs including ‘Down in the Valley to Pray’ as well as new compositions by Lloyd Larson and Nancy Price, who conducted her version of The 23rd Psalm and featured soprano soloist Sue Martin singing a delightful version of Pie Iesu.  The Tapestry choir finalised with a roof-lifting ‘Summer version of Spirituals’ conducted by Joe Martin

The concert organisers deemed that all ticket sales at the door would be donated to the Choir’s 2016 charity appeal this year, the Motor Neurone Disease Association on behalf of whom an appeal was made by charity organiser Tannwen Saunders.  Tannwen later announced that about £315 was raised for the charity.

Caldicot choir followed the Tapestry choir’s wonderful performances with items equally as entertaining and in particular  ‘Ride the Chariot’ an American spiritual featuring soloist David Gould and Siân Hatton which was praised with yells of delight and a standing ovation from the Tapestry Choir and the audience.  The rousing second presentation included the Welsh Hymn, Llef as well as The Impossible Dream from the musical Man from La Mancha and the romantic modern Welsh song ‘Yfory’ tomorrow.  The Choir’s performance once again inspired the audience to a second standing ovation.  The mix of items blended together perfectly to give the Americans a real taste of Welsh culture in glorious, inspiring surroundings

The invitation to sing with the American Tapestry Choir was triggered by Nancy Price the composer of the song ‘As long as I have music’.  This piece was arranged by our own Stephen Berry for a four part male voice choir and was recorded by the choir on its 2010 album ‘One Moment in Time’, part of which is featured on our web site’s Recordings page.  Knowing she was coming on tour to the UK with the Tapestry Choir, she particularly asked if we could join them in Cardiff so we could perform this song jointly with the male members of their choir.   Although we had not sung this song for about four years, we, after a few run-throughs to remind us, were only too pleased to accept.  After just one rehearsal we performed this as a climax to a wonderful evening’s entertainment and once again the choirs and audience were moved to give the accolade of yet a third standing ovation.

In a closing remarks Father George Puthoor from Kerala, India of St Peter’s Church will not mind me saying that he was moved to tears while praising both choirs for a remarkable and incredibly moving performance by both choirs.  I’m sure both choirs and their musical teams will go along with that Father George.

 

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Choir Sings in Three Choirs Concert at the Castle

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett.  Left click to enlarge

 

It was unusually splendid, sunny afternoon in the grounds of Caldicot Castle on June 18th when three Male Voice Choirs from Monmouthshire took part in the Choirs in the Castle Concert to raise funds for the National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny in August.

Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth got together for the first time ever in their histories to take part in a fabulous concert of wonderful Welsh Male Voice singing to entertain a large crowd picnicking in the Castle grounds.

Opening with the classic Rachie, over 130 voices, conducted by Gareth Whitcombe and accompanied by Sara Humber of Blaenavon Male Voice Choir the audience were then entertained in turn by each choir.  Caldicot sang a mix of Llef, A Miner’s Song, What would I do without my music?, The Impossible Dream from the Braodway musical Man of La Mancha and finalising with the Welsh Hymn Aberystwyth conducted by Siân Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied not only by John Nicholson and Stephen Berry but by a cacophony of the local birds enthusiastically joining in from the trees.

Chepstow’s seven items, conducted by Frank Jones and accompanied by Rosemarie Lewis and Kirsten Sondergest-Watson included the iconic ‘Calon Lan’ loved by so many choirs and audiences alike as well as This Little Light of Mine and Alexander’s Ragtime Band.

Monmouth Male Voice Choir has only been in existence for three years but gave a remarkable concert which included Divine Brahma, You Raise Me Up, Anfanol Angel and a medley of Welsh Hymns conducted by Ian Russell and accompanied by Helen Stidolph.

We were delighted to see guest artist Welsh tenor Wynne Evans again, who entertained us not only with Granada, O Sole Mio and later ‘With a Song in my Heart’ and together with the delightful compere Alex Jones from the BBC’s ‘One Show’ kept us amused with a humorous repartee and concise introductions throughout.  A highlight of the evening was when Wynne Evans surprisingly invited Gareth Whitcombe  to sing a part of the ‘Pearl Fisher’s Duet’ on stage.  Fortunately Gareth has a formal training as a singer.

The concert finalised with the choirs combining to give incredible renditions of An American Trilogy and the well known, beautiful hymn ‘Gwahoddiad’ and closing with a rousing rendition by everyone of ‘Hen wlad fy Nhadau’, the National Anthem.

This was a unique occasion, organised by Monmouthshire County Council events team with special thanks going to Dan Davies and Tim Lewis for all their hard work in putting this together.  Let’s hope we can do more joint events together.

 

 

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