Photographs by Colleen Gauntlett. Left click on images to enlarge.
On a gloriously sunny afternoon of Saturday 16th May over 60 members of the choir made the journey to the Christchurch Centre in Old Malpas Road, Newport to join in with the Rotary Club of Newport concert for Senior Citizens and Supporters.
The Choir was joined by 22 children of the Malpas Church in Wales School Choir, (drawn in at very short notice to replace the Rogerstone Brass Band who could not attend due to illness of several of its members) and the Gwent Accordion Club.
The Choir opened proceeding with Rachie and On the Street Where You live before the Gwent Accordion Club led by conductor Dan Bailey, stepped up to play a number of rousing and foot tapping pieces. The Malpas Church School choir, conducted by Louise Keyse then delightfully sang a range of pieces, opening with California Dreamin’, Stay with me and finishing with Strong before Caldicot Choir closed the first half with Can’t Help falling in Love and You Raise Me Up.
The second half followed a similar format to the first with the choir opening with Yfory and the Rhythm of Life. The Accordion Band included a number of humorous pieces such as ‘King of the Swingers’ from the Jungle Book Disney film which saw a gorilla suited impersonation dancing up and down the aisles and a Waltz which had the audience joining hands and rhythmically swaying and jumping to the tune, including not only Jessica Morden MP and Newport City Mayor Matthew Evans and his consort but also the front row of the choir joining in. See our Facebook page for a video of the choir enjoying itself.
The boys and girls of the Malpas School Choir then gave us four more songs including I Just Can’t Wait to be King, Make You Feel My Love and Let it Go, all enchantingly sung to the delight of the audience.
The Choir finished proceeding with enthusiastically welcomed performances of Ride the Chariot with Siân Hatton and David Gould singing the solo parts and O Gymru which included Tommy Hole sing the solo second verse. The Choir was conducted by Musical Director Siân Hatton and accompanists throughout were the ever present John Nicholson and Stephen Berry on piano.
Proceeding closed with presentations and expressions of thanks by Rotary Club President Derek Fletcher before the Choir finalised with Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.
This was an unusual concert, enjoyed by all and played to well over 500 people in the huge Christchurch Centre. We hope we can perform there again.