The Guilsfield Singers came up with a splendid mix of music last Saturday evening, for their annual Supper Concert at Guilsfield Community Centre,
A capacity audience enjoyed a programme of songs with the title ‘Rivers and the Sea’, and ranging from excerpts from Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore, with a group of soloists from the choir joined by Christopher Moore-Bridger, to the classic ‘Never Weatherbeaten Sail’ and ‘Blow the Wind Southerly’, and even numbers from ‘South Pacific’.
They were joined by their President, local baritone Christopher Booth-Jones, who delighted everyone with two Flanders & Swann songs ‘Rain on the Plage’ and ‘Ostrich Song’ and joined the choir for a magical rendition of ‘Some Enchanted Evening’.
The concert was compèred this year by Rev Roger Bird, who regaled his listeners with tales of his adventures on a recent cruise.
After a splendid salad supper provided by the Singers, choir member John Jones auctioned off attractive wood turned pieces made by Jim Polkinghorne and a local landscape painting by Johnny Gordon, plus a beautiful arrangement of flowers by Social Secretary Val Wright.
Guilsfield Singers chairman presented a cheque to the Old School Committee chairman May Lloyd to go towards new chairs for the meeting room. After a list of thankyous for such a good evening, including accompanist for the evening Joan Upton-Holder and Musical Director Gerry Howe, rehearsal accompanist Pam Yapp was presented with the Chairman’s Award for her contribution to the choir above and beyond the call of duty for playing on every week despite an injury to her wrist which is still receiving treatment.
The final piece from the choir for the evening was John Rutter’s ‘Gaelic Blessing', and the audience left the concert feeling thoroughly well-entertained.
April 2008
The Guilsfield Singers produced an impressive treat for a two hundred strong audience last Wednesday with a performance of Gounod’s ‘Messe Solennelle St Cecilia’.
The concert was promoted jointly with the Welshpool Hospital League of Friends, who will receive a donation from monies raised. It took place in St Mary’s Church, Welshpool.
In an ambitious new venture for the choir, they were joined by professional soloists Eleanor Jones (soprano), Oliver Sammons (bass) and Petro Wychrij (tenor), together with harpist Eleri Lloyd and organist Tim Stuart. Together they gave a moving interpretation of the Gounod Mass, with an exciting passage for the harp in the ‘Gloria’ and excellent solos throughout. The choir rose to the occasion, singing musically and with confidence.
The second part of the concert was a selection of solos and choral pieces, ranging from exerpts from Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s ‘Allelujah’ from the Exultate Jubilate, to a beautiful version of the traditional Welsh song ‘Lisa Lan’ for soprano and harp. Eleri Lloyd played Glinka’s ‘Nocturne’, and the choir sang the short and rather attractive 'Mass of St Gregory’ by the little-known nineteenth century composer R R Terry.
Organist Tim Stuart accompanied throughout the concert with splendid musicianship, and the choir was conducted by their Musical Director, Gerry Howe, who is certainly helping them make an impact on the local musical scene.
To round off the concert, the choir sang the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from the Messiah, and in celebration of such a splendid evening of music, the audience was invited to join in.
Members of the League of Friends served wine and soft drinks in the interval, in a repeat of last year’s idea of making the evening something of a social, as well as musical, occasion. After the interval, President Pam Owen talked of the charity’s history and work
.
Christmas 2007
The Guilsfield Singers rounded off their Christmas celebrations with a highly successful carol concert at St. Mary’s Church in Kinnerley on 19th December. With a packed audience of around 200, they sang a mixture of carols old and new. They were joined by the audience for four of the most popular carols.
Half way through the concert, the choir’s musical director Gerry Howe and accompanist for the evening Joan Upton-Holder played a duet version of the Lullaby from the’Dolly’ Suite by Gabriel Fauré. Sherry, mince pies and other very welcome refreshments were provided afterwards by the church for everyone.
This concert followed similar evenings at Guilsfield Church and Leighton Church. Choir Chairman Vaire Edwards said “We’ve had one of our best ever Christmases: We’ve learnt some new pieces and enjoyed singing the old favourites. Best of all, it’s been very rewarding to sing to so many people at all the venues.”
The choir is now beginning rehearsals for an Easter concert in St. Mary’s Church, Welshpool. The main work will be the St. Cecilia Mass by Gounod, following the success of the Fauré Requiem in 2007. The concert, on 9 April, will be promoted jointly with the Welshpool Hospital League of Friends and the Guilsfield Singers are hoping to make a significant donation from the ticket monies.
Anyone interested in joining the choir or in coming to the Easter concert can ring Secretary Pauline Furnell on 01938 559612. Rehearsals for their Easter performance of Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass start on Wednesday 9 January.
Easter 2007
The choir rose with huge success to the challenge of the Fauré Requiem Mass in April. The perofrmance took place in St Mary's Church in Welshpool, by kind permission of the Revd. Roger Brown and the church authorities. The concert was promoted jointly with Marie Curie Cancer Care under the "Making Music Care" scheme with Making Music, the national federation of music societies, of which Guilsfield Singers is a member.
Thanks to this collaboration, we performed to an audience of over 200 which was a great experience for us. Other works in the concert included William Lloyd Webber's Mass The Prince of Peace plus God so loved the world by John Stainer, All in the April Evensing by Hugh Roberton and Through the night of doubt and sorrow with music by local composer Caradog Roberts.
Christopher Booth-Jones, our President, sang three lovely solos: The Call from Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs, Spring Sorrow by John Ireland and Loveliest of trees by George Butterworth. This was a real treat for audience and choir alike and we are grateful to Christopher for his continuing support. In the Fauré, which has a couple of fine pieces for baritone, he was joined by local soprano Penny Nicholson who gave a beautiful performance of the Pie Jesu.
In fact the whole evening was a great joy. Thank you to everyone who took part! A donation of £400 was made to Marie Curie Cancer Care, who also collected £198 on the night.
