On 8th July the weather forecasts were such that we were still hoping (up to the eleventh hour) that we might sing in Sunhill Gardens but there was a marked change in the forecasts during the late morning and, as we assembled in Sunhill Gardens for a pre-Concert rehearsal, one could almost smell the rain in the air. The venue was hastily changed to our wet weather alternative, the Church Hall at St John’s, and the Concert started there promptly at 2 pm.
The Concert began with three folk songs, two arranged by Gustav Holst and one by C V Stanford. The first set was then rounded off with the beautiful My Spirit Sang All Day by Gerald Finzi.
We were then treated to a set by an excellent Quintet of singers, organised by Stephen Barton, after which we were privileged to hear a baritone solo by our conductor, Matthew Clark. It was absolutely delightful.
The choir’s second set consisted of several amusing songs, choral arrangements of Nellie the Elephant and The Animals Went in Two by Two followed by three of Edward Lear’s nonsense limericks arranged for SATB.
Richard Lennox our amazing Accompanist then performed a solo set. As always it was full of the pyrotechnical wizardry that only Richard can produce.
The concert was then rounded off by the choir singing Stephen Sondheim’s Send in the Clowns and Burt Bacharach’s Close to You. The audience were very appreciative.
Our very grateful thanks to Father Brendan Clover (and his ever helpful wife, Lynn) for enabling us to perform in the Hall. We all had a wonderful time!