Committed to its’ ethos of helping local charities whenever possible, last night, 11th October, the Choir Hall doors opened to a special practice to raise funds and awareness of the Seren Olivia Witcombe appeal to help the Neo-natal unit of the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport. You will have read from a previous post (please click on “Choir Sings for Seren“) how Seren Olivia sadly passed away at the age of seven months on July 29th this year after being born prematurely, weighing only 500gm. The hard work and devotion to help Seren by the staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital so moved her parents Sian and Daley, that an appeal was instigated to raise much needed support for the unit. Events to date have raised over £3000.
The choir opened its doors to an ‘Open Practice’ when visitors and supporters of the appeal, including a bus-full from Pontypool, Seren’s would be home town, could come in to listen to the choir practice some of its new pieces as well as enjoy recognised favourites. Entry was free but visitors were invited to make a bucket contribution and buy refreshments and raffle tickets in aid of the appeal.
Musical Director Siân Hatton, accompanied by Stephen Berry put the choir through our ‘theme tune’ Llanfair, (which we should know by now, but always room for improvement) and followed with a rehearsal, never before heard in public of a Stephen Berry arrangement of ‘The Music’s Always There With You‘. This provided an insight to the audience of the hard work needed to perfect a piece before it is sung to the public. Following on through with lively ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ and the relaxing ‘An Evening’s Pastoral’, first sung by the choir in 1968 and ‘He‘, the choir finished before the break with all time favourite, guaranteed to raise the hair on the back of the neck, ‘Nessun Dorma’ from the opera Turandot.
Following much needed refreshment and an ample supply of cakes and biscuits, generously donated, the audience of about 80 supporters and over 60 choristers returned to their seats to continue with the Franz Schubert composition of ‘Psalm 23′ sung in Welsh for the first time in public by the choir since the National Eisteddfod in Newport in 2004. A subtle performance of Lleucu Llwyd was contrasted with our special, John Nicholson arrangement of Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love’ sung by Musical Director Siân and accompanied by the Choir. The practice concluded to rapturous applause with the classic, Male Voice Choir all time favourite of ‘When I Survey the Wond’rous Cross.’
Following a raffle (Someone! Someone! Will anybody take me? Somebody – the CAKE!!!!) carried out by appeal organisers Sian and Joanne the audience was invited to stay behind, take advantage of the open bar and talk to the choristers. To most choristers knowledge, this is the first time that an event like this has been arranged by the choir and since reports that over £500 was raised, we’re sure it will not be the last. If you would like to make a further contribution to the appeal, this can be done via PayPal by contacting jenna_powell_2@yahoo.co.uk
If you want to hear the choir singing An Evening’s Pastoral at this practice, then click on the Facebook link above.
Photos by Colleen