Photos by Colleen Gauntlett. Left click on images to enlarge.
The Choir was pleased to give up its usual Thursday night practice to come together at Caldicot Methodist Church on Thursday 14th May. 65 choristers and the musical team made the short journey to create a wonderful, diverse concert and joined by well known, delightful local soprano soloist Joyce Rickard, a near full church was treated to a festival of fabulous and varied music..
The church and its congregation are marvellous supporters of our choir and we do all we can to help their worthy and charitable causes when we are able. This time we performed to help raise funds for Christian Aid with the disaster appeal to help victims of the earthquake in Nepal foremost in our minds and the evening raised nearly £400 for the appeal. The concert was organised by Church member John Mills and compèred by ex minister Joe Rooney who kept the audience laughing with his jokes and anecdotes throughout the evening.
With Siân Hatton and Shirley Ann James conducting and accompanied on piano and keyboard by Stephen Berry and John Nicholson the choir sang through a diverse repertoire of of classical Welsh Hymns and including songs from theatre and film such as Llef, He, Battle Hymn of the Republic, You Raise me up, Ride the Chariot, The Rhythm of Life, On the Street Where You Live, O Gymru, Laudamus among many others and topped off by a thrilling and enthusiastic rendition of Nidaros lasting eight and a half minutes, enthusing the audience with its many changes of pace and volume. As a growing choir we are thrilled that we can now confidently include such complex and varied pieces into our repertoire.
An enjoyable concert was enjoyed by all and we look forward to singing again at our local Methodist Church in the not too distant future.