On Saturday 10th March 2012, following the balmy warmth of a sunny day which we hope will herald the blossoming of a stunning Spring (who writes this stuff?) and the victory of the Welsh rugby team over Italy, about 50 choristers travelled the few miles down the road to assemble at Magor Baptist Chapel to assist in raising funds for Kidney Research UK. Introduced by organiser Jenny Griffiths, whose husband Stan, is a vice president of the choir, Siân opened the proceedings with our familiar, rousing, introductory theme tune of Llanfair followed by a trilogy of favourites conducted by Shirley Ann. Siân took over the baton to lead us in our premier public performance of The Lost Chord to close our first half performance.
Soloist for the evening was Scottish born, Magor resident Fiona Bryant. Fiona is a mezzo soprano who studied in Holland and now teaches singing at Caldicot Comprehensive School. Accompanied by Stephen Berry, she delighted the packed chapel of almost 250 people to three pieces in each half, drawn from the widely different styles of opera and musicals (left click on the programme below for the full concert itinerary).
The second half began with the Cole Porter Medley and either side of Fiona’s presentations, included the wide ranging styles of Lleucu Lleud and American Trilogy in which Steve played his part on the chapel organ and John Nicholson accompanied on the piano. Shirley Ann conducted us while we sang African Trilogy, (a firm favourite with all our audiences) while Siân took the solo part. The choir rounded off the evening with O Gymru (soloist Tom Hole) resulting in appreciative, rapturous, closing applause from the audience.
The Musical team were extremely pleased to be presented with beautifully wrapped orchids by Jenny who announced that the concert had raised ‘in excess of £1600’ for Kidney Research UK. The Reverend Linda Crebbin, Minister of the Baptist Chapel described the evening as a ‘fabulous evening of entertainment’.
After the concert, the choir retired to local Undy Football Club for refreshments, but our traditional afterglow performance was unfortunately curtailed by a simultaneous group playing at a Football Club presentation evening. Never mind, there will be others.
Left click on the photos to enlarge. Press Esc to return to this page.
Photos by Colleen Gauntlett