Photos and You-tube video by Lyn. Left click on the images to enlarge.
On January 31st 2013 a packed house of about 160 members of the choir including guests and friends got together at the Choir Hall to see out the Choir’s 50th Anniversary Year and to look forward to welcoming the New Year of 2014 with increased optimism and enthusiasm for a bright future.
All of us were wonderfully entertained throughout the evening by the superb dance music of The Richard Harris Quartet consisting of vocalist Richard on keyboard, Lee Goodall (saxophone), Andrew Lucas on drums and the wonderful singing talents of Annmarie Riley. Newport born Richard still lives locally and is a staunch fan of our choir having performed for us on many occasions. Composer, pianist and vocalist, trained at the Royal Welsh School of Music and Drama, Richard has made many solo appearances on TV and Radio shows including HTV’s “Moon and Stars”, Michael Barrymore’s “My Kind Of Music” and BBC’s “Just Up Your Street”. He has also appeared with his trio on the Chris Evans show “OFIS”. His Piano and Vocal talents have been seen at his performance across the world at many corporate and private events. He has been the resident Pianist/Vocalist at the Celtic Manor Resort near Newport in South Wales, UK (famously the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2012) since 1999 and has performed alongside stars such as Ronan Keating, James Nesbitt, Charlotte Church and Jonathan Wilkes and many others. We were certainly fortunate Richard accepted our invitation to bring the Quartet’s fabulous music to our special evening.
A special break in the proceedings was provided by Siân Hatton leading five of our choristers (Mark Stocker, Karl Gregory, Dave Gould, Richie Llewellyn and Steve Davies) in a cabaret act entitled ‘If I were not upon the stage…..’ which brought the house down with laughter – especially when Richie missed his timing (had to say it Richie, sorry). A video of this can be seen on You-tube by clicking on the link If I were not upon the stage – well worth a visit. Time to put on the silly hats for a while – a tradition inherited from the choir’s tours to Germany.
At very close to midnight everyone was on their feet, linking arms to bring in the New Year to the familiar refrains of Auld Lang Syne (including the second verse) before lots of hugs and kisses and downing the first drink of the year and then heading home in the driving rain knowing that they had enjoyed a very special evening.
Special thanks must go to Mark Stocker, his fiancée Denise and others who spent many hours decorating the hall so splendidly with ice blue walls and snowflakes, the bar staff and helpers including Siân, Dai Gould, Phil Cody, Mike Thurman (apologies if I missed anyone) who kept us supplied with fuel all evening and to all those who set out and cleared up the hall afterwards. Your efforts are greatly valued and appreciated by everyone. A very happy and prosperous New Year to all of you.