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Aberystwyth 12 - 14th of May 2006
The
Choir departed from Swindon at tea time on Friday evening heading for
Aberystwyth, on the far West coast of Mid-Wales.
A long drive through evening traffic, and warm and friendly Welsh rain
didn’t dampen the spirits of the choir members and their partners, who sang,
laughed and enjoyed their trip through the Cambrian Mountains.
A bright and early breakfast on Saturday morning, brought the first ‘work’ of the week-end. All in place by 10.00am, the Choristers faced well structured workshops of choral instruction, and vocal development lead by Max and Frances. Advice and practice of breathing techniques to support singing, production of vocal tone and quality, and encouragement to show the emotions that accompany delivery of words and music in choral arrangements – especially the ‘smile’!
By 1.00pm the voices were well worked and needed to be saved for the evening concert later that day.
Of
course, mustn’t forget the FA Cup, all clustered around TV’s in the hotel
watching the first half. At half
time, rushing off for a quick shave, shower and dress - ready to travel into the
town of Aberystwyth to meet our host, Glan Davies, and members of Aberystwyth
Male Voice Choir. Then back to the
TV for the continued tension of the Cup Final.
But horror of horrors, the coach left with all Choir members aboard at
4.30pm taking us to the town, and the final was on a knife edge!
Apologies to the gents having to miss such a fabulous, nail-biting final.
Making
our way to Morfa Chapel in the town the choir met Glan and the Aberystwyth Choir
for a very warm and friendly welcome and for a very successful combined
rehearsal session. The travellers
from Swindon were delighted with the warm welcome and friendship of Aberystwyth
Choir members.
Tea
was provided for the Choirs and to their amazement the chapel was mostly full by
7.00pm – concert didn’t start until 7.30!
The chapel was packed with over 300 people ready for a good concert.
They
were not disappointed! Swindon
Choir began the concert to a very warm welcome from Glan Davies and the
audience. Very high quality
performances of ‘With a voice of singing’; Carrickfergus and ‘Amen –
This little light of mine’, brought the audience alive.
The Choir was truly focused and demonstrated a high standard of choral
ability, reflecting the success of workshops earlier in the day!
Aberystwyth
Male Voice Choir took the stage, with three items, two in their natural Welsh
and ‘Were You There’ in English.
A fine choir, who presented accurately and passionately their love and
enjoyment of choral music. An
excellent start to the evening!
The
Choral input was varied by performances by soloists Helen Holt 17 yrs and
Phillip Edwards 16 yrs; The Aberystwyth Saxaphone Ensemble; and Jason Lewis
17yrs making a high quality appearance with solo Trumpet and Cornet.
The excellence of these young singers and musicians is to be highly
commended. They were each rapturously appreciated by the full audience and
choirs (almost 400 people!) We
applaud their skills and abilities and encourage them to continue to develop
their skills and expertise – music is a lifetime journey and we wish them a
long musical experience!
Further
presentations of choral music by Aberystwyth and Swindon Choirs saw excellent
performances of up to date choral music including the ‘American Trilogy’
(made famous by the late Elvis Presley), ‘Sloop John B’ – as sung by the
Beach Boys
A highlight of the evening, saw the combined choirs singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ (well Liverpool did win the FA Cup!). The added tingle and thrill was having all 300 of the audience also singing with the choirs - a fabulous and memorable moment that choristers and audience will remember for many years.
The
concert was staged in the beautiful Morfa Chapel and it was appropriate that
after the thrill, fun and excitement of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ Max¹
should bring the evening to a warm and emotive close as the two Choirs presented
an arrangement of ‘Morte Christe – When I Survey The wondrous Cross’.
A wonderfully sensitive close to an excellent concert.
That
is not the end of the tale. The
event was presented by Glan Davies on behalf of the British
Heart Foundation for Aberystwyth and District. Glan advises that the concert realised in excess of £2,000 for the British Heart Foundation as the result
of the efforts of the Choirs and their supporting guests.
A fabulous end to a excellent choral weekend in the life of Swindon Male
Voice Choir!
Note:
Members of Swindon Male Voice Choir and their partners, funded their own
costs and expenses to travel and stay in Aberystwyth for this concert and were
delighted that the full proceeds of the concert have been passed to the British
Heart Foundation for Aberystwyth and District.
Life with Swindon Male Voice Choir is never dull, and already the plans are in place for future ventures to The Royal Albert Hall in November, followed by a combined concert with one of the UK’s finest Choirs ‘Cor Godre’r Aran’ from North Wales. Into 2007 the Choir is preparing for a Concert Tour through Canada, and a finale to the year with a concert featuring the Band of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in June 2007. In between, the choir will be making various appearances in Swindon and around the South Country supporting charitable causes in more concerts.
The
preparatory work completed – words and music learned by 125 participants, the
show was ready.
51 members of Ruskin Junior School Choir arrived at the Wyvern Theatre for 4.00pm rehearsals. Highly strung, excited and keen to sing! Firstly staging was required, making sure everyone, no matter how small, was in the right place to see the Choir’s conductor - Jacki Pattenden. Then they sang – for a number of children, their first experience of the vast Wyvern Theatre stage and auditorium. The sound this choir of children aged 8 – 11 years produced was of the best quality.
Back
stage, 44 members of Swindon Male Voice Choir and 30 members of North Wiltshire
Young Musicians Choir were preparing for their rehearsals.
At 4.30pm, the stage was filled with all 125 singers, ready to rehearse the combined material for the ‘Message for Peace’ and the finale. They did all fit on the stage! With speakers and singers being well prepared, the rehearsal was an enjoyable experience! Children using microphones for the first time to speak their lines. The Youth Choir singing in the Theatre for the first time; and the men of the male choir cheerfully supporting the younger voices to achieve a good strong performance for the finale.
And so to the Show! The choirs were pleased to welcome an audience of near 450, including, The Mayor of Swindon – Ray Fisher and his wife; The Choir’s President – Ken Knox and his wife; Families, Friends, and supporters of the three choirs; and those seeing the choirs in concert for the first time.
A
warm and confident beginning by Swindon Male Choir, with ‘A Voice of
Singing’ followed by a delightful unaccompanied arrangement of ‘All Through
the Night’. The group of songs was closed with a lively delivery of ‘Amen!
– This Little Light of Mine’. With
Max’s welcome and introductions the evening was off to a very good start. They
later presented a power arrangement of a South African anthem, and closed the
first half with a well contrasted and powerful delivery of ‘Battle Hymn of the
Republic’. The men were certainly on very good form.
The audience were treated to three items by the children of Ruskin School Choir. Very well coached and prepared, the Choir enchanted the audience with very high quality choral singing. ‘God Bless the Master’, and ‘Alleluia Train’ and a touching presentation of ‘Kwmbyah’, delivered with the children providing the sign language as they sang. This Choir deserved the long and rich applause from the audience.
The
Choir of the North Wiltshire Young Musicians have not previously appeared on the
Wyvern Theatre Stage, but they truly made the most of this occasion! From
My Fair Lady, the choir delivered ‘I could Have Danced All Night’ with a
bright lively style and showed they clearly enjoyed their delivery.
This was contrasted with a warm arrangement of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’
from Les Miserables. Two items very well presented by this young choir.
The second half of the concert featured a ‘Message for Peace’ bringing the three choirs together to deliver ‘The Message of the Children’. Ruskin School Choir captivated the audience with ‘I am a small part of the world’ telling the world that children can together be strong and bold, they can have dreams to reach the skies, and a small voice, but a voice that can sing for freedom with nothing to fear. Child, youth and adult speakers in verse and text implored those listening to consider the things that are important and to consider one another and the world in which we live. These thoughts were echoed in the words of ‘A Green Prayer’ sung sensitively by the North Wilts Young Musicians Choir. The three choirs then combined to present an emotive and passionate arrangement of ‘Let there be peace on earth’. A favourite of many in the audience and certainly the resulting audience applause indicated that ‘The Message of the Children’ was understood and appreciated!
In
contrast to the many voices of the Choir a very special moment for Annie
Quinton-Smith of the North Wilts Youth Choir as she stepped to the front of the
stage and sang a lovely arrangement of ‘Over the Rainbow’. Confident and with a clear tone, Annie won many hearts with
this presentation.
The
Show was brought to a close with the Choirs and the Audience singing ‘Let
there be Peace on Earth’ – a touching and wonderful end to a very good Show.
It
didn’t quite end there, as the three Choirs were loudly cheered and applauded
by the audience until the very last singer had left the stage – a tribute to a
good show indeed!