It has been 3 years since Caldicot Male Voice Choir has been able to play host to a local primary school and invite one to sing at the Choir hall in a Christmas concert, so the choristers were doubly delighted that the children of years 3,4,5 and 6 of local Dewstow Primary and Nursery School shared the stage for a medley of Christmas carols and Christmas fun on December 12th.
The concert of several parts included Caldicot choristers, conducted by Sian Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied by John Nicholson singing its favourites, among others of Joy to the World, While Shepherds Watch, Silver Bells, Casatschok, Mary’s Boy Child. I saw a Star and God Rest you Merry Gentlemen.
Interspersed into the choir’s performance the children, led by teacher Kerry McDonnell delightfully and confidently sang all of their pieces unaccompanied including several soloists, before joining the male voice choir on stage to enthusiastically sing ‘Jingle Bells’ at the end of a Christmas medley before finalising with Dymunwn Nadolig Llawen – We wish you a Merry Christmas.
The evening included a surprise appearance by Santa Claus who thrilled and delighted the children with his visit and concluded with a raffle by the school’s PTFA to raise funds to take the children to a theatre.
Mrs McDonnell is quoted as saying that it was a wonderful experience for the children to be able to sing their first concert, especially with a Male Voice Choir and these occasions help to build the children’s confidence to go on to achieving so mush more. Mrs McDonnell would love to bring the children back again in the future and the choristers would also be thrilled to welcome the school back again.