Photographs by Colleen Gauntlett. Left click on images to enlarge
On Saturday August 1st, 54 members of the choir and the musical team endured the slow moving traffic down the M5 to reach Tiverton before driving up the picturesque Exe valley, through narrow lanes to the tiny village of Oakford, nestling in the hills about 8 miles northwards.
Organised by ex Caldicot girl Julia Mayer, a class-mate of chairman Mark Stocker and now a resident of Oakford, the concert was performed to aid the charity PSPA. The tiny church of St Peter’s on the crest of a hill was the venue for the Choir’s concert. The church was formed in the 15th century but modified significantly in 1838 to its present condition. The tower features a heavy peal of eight bells dating from 1822.
To a packed church of over 120, the choir opened with the all time Welsh hymn tune favourite ‘Rachie’ followed by ‘What would I do without my music’ and then premièred its performance of ‘California Dreamin’ made famous by the Mamas and the Papas. This is sure to be a favourite in the choir’s repertoire. ‘Calm is the Sea’ followed and the performance included the well known Welsh hymn Laudamus and Welsh songs O Gymru (soloist Tommy Hole) and Yfory.
To everyone’s surprise and delight the supporting artiste was 14 year old, Machynlleth born saxophonist Jack Armstrong Williams who thrilled the audience with his superb virtuoso playing of the alto saxophone with a wide range of songs including among others jazz mixes and favourites Canteloupe Island, Take Five, Billie Bounce, Yardbird Suite made famous by Charlie “Bird” Parker and George Gershwin’s ‘Fascinating Rhythm’ and ‘But not for me’. He concluded with foot tapping Brazilian Beat which he admitted he only started practising two days before and is a real pain to play (his words). his entire repertoire was played with remarkable skill and confidence which belied his young age. At the end his performance, like the choir’s, was rewarded with a standing ovation which brought a huge grin to his face. You will hear more of this youngster.
The choir completed its programme with ‘Somewhere Out There’ from the Spielberg cartoon ‘American Tail’, ‘On the street where you live’ from ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ from the American Civil war, spiritual ‘Ride the Chariot’ with solos by Siân Hatton and David Gould and not forgetting among others ‘Eli Jenkins’ Prayer’ from Under Milk Wood.
To rapturous applause, a standing ovation and requests for an encore the choir responded with ‘Morte Criste’ to the delight of the hugely appreciative audience.
The choir was conducted by Siân Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied on piano by John Nicholson.
Following the concert the choir crossed the road to the Red Lion where Jenny the landlady produced a banquet of sandwiches for all and the choir responded with a rendering of its (to us) familiar afterglow songs, much to the delight of the local population. We have been asked to come back as soon as we can and no doubt we will return.