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For the sixth biannual visit, the choir was privileged and delighted to be invited once again, to sing at Bingham Hall in the picturesque, ancient wool town of Cirencester set in the verdant, rolling hills of the Cotswolds. This event, previously organised by Margaret and Alan Moss, vice-presidents of the choir, for the past ten years, is now organised by Soroptomist International. This is a worldwide service organisation for women committed to inspiring action to transform the lives of women and children. The evening was arranged to support the Cotswold Care Hospice and the Sue Ryder-Leckhampton Court Hospice as well as bar proceeds going to the Timmy Mason Trust.
The choir arrived in glorious autumn sunshine to enter the neo-classical surroundings of Bingham Hall, resplendent and glittering under its three magnificent chandeliers. While the choir waited in the Green Room, the evening’s entertainment opened with a medley of numbers played enchantingly by the young people of the Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble. This group was formed in 1999 to encourage and create opportunities for young classical guitarists to develope their skills and perform as an ensemble under the direction of Sandra Dukes. For more information, please visit their web site at www.coriniumplayers.com .
The Choir opened to a full house of about 400 people with the traditional Welsh hymn, Llanfair and continued to amaze the audience with a blend of both ancient and modern in a varied mix including favourites Yfory, Eli Jenkins Prayer, O Iesu Mawr, through a Cole Porte Medley and the Lion King’s Can You Feel the Love Tonight (solo by Siân Hatton) and to the delight and surprise of the listeners, two Queen numbers, Bohemian Rhapsody and Somebody to Love, the latter including an amazing solo by Siân while conducting the choir and piano at the same time. How does she do that? Our accompanists for the evening were Stephen Berry and John Nicholson, who provided an extra dimension with the choir’s newly acquired electronic keyboard. Regrettably and sadly, due to a family bereavement Shirley Ann wasn’t able to come to Saturday’s performance. The thoughts of everyone in the choir and its’ supporters are with you at this sad time.
The Choir’s varied programme was interspersed with glorious and beautifully sung solos by Guest Artiste, young soprano, Claire Lees who travelled from London to perform in the concert. Her programme included items from both stage shows and classical opera. Special mention must go to our own accompanist Stephen Berry who after only an hour or so’s rehearsal combined with Claire to give a faultless performance by two excellent professional musicians. Claire is a graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire and in June 2010 won First Prize in the prestigious Delius Prize which led to an opportunity to sing at Steinway Hall, London. Following her performances with the famous Ex Cathedra Choir, the Thursford Christmas Spectacular, at the National Portrait Gallery for the Brandenburg Choral Festival and at the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Festival in Buxton, Claire hopes to continue her musical career by studying at post graduate level in 2013 and the choir wishes her every success in her career. To find out more about Claire, please visit her web-site at www.clairelees.co.uk
The evening was rounded off by a slight change where ‘You Raise Me Up’ was replaced by a delightful, première away performance of He (written by Jack Richards) and finished with O Gymru, a song which extols the virtues of Wales (soloist Tommy Hole). To a rousing reception and cries of ‘More, more!’ the choir obliged with an encore of the favourite, toe tapping African Trilogy in which as ever, Jason Dawe enthusiastically took the solo part. See, you weren’t left out Jason!
Following the evening’ s presentation ceremony by appreciative members of Soroptomist International, Cirencester, with gifts to the Music Team, soloist and choir chairman of potted orchids and the singing of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, the choir left the stage to rapturous applause to indulge in, as usual at the Bingham Hall, sumptuous refreshments and bar (the pickled onions were amazing). The choir supporters and bar staff were further entertained by a choir afterglow which continued until the bar closed and choruses of ‘On the bus, on the bus!’ echoed around the room.
Special mention and congratulations must go to Steve and Jill Berry who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday and to Denise, the wife of chairman Leon Jones, who also celebrated a special birthday on Saturday. The orchid made a lovely birthday present, didn’t it Leon? Well done also to Ron Griffiths for surviving his first major concert, smart in his new dress suit and bow tie – or what?
Photos by Coll
