REPORT ON CHOIR ACTIVITIES

February 2004 - Choir Workshop

On Tuesday 2nd February the choir were privileged to have Maria Yagusz leading a choral workshop especially arranged for them on their practice night. Maria's remit was to listen to the rehearsal of chorus No 9 from Messiah and pick on any points she felt needed to be developed. She did so and soon became very involved with the rehearsal. Using her lovely rich Mezzo-soprano voice she cajoled and encouraged the choir to sing the sounds she wanted. The greatest amusement came from singing long phrases. "Don't put an "h" in front of the vowel," she said. "But that's what we've been told to do," they retorted! I admitted that that was so. "However, we will work on it," I said. I wondered how long it would be before they reverted back to using the "h"!

The rehearsal continued in a similar manner with Maria picking on various aspects of vocal technique. The comments I have gleaned from the choir were very favourable. A unanimous decision was that they would like to have another workshop and could we make it longer next time!

November 2006.

WCS were in concert with St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir in St Petrocs Church, Bodmin. Over £800 was raised for Cancer Research UK. The large audience liked the variety and styles of both choirs. Many people enjoyed the combined piece at the end of the concert

Christmas 2006.

Choir performs a rarely heard work "Night of Miracles" by J. Peterson to a full church. The audience were very appreciative and thoroughly enjoyed listening to this piece. Many people were disappointed that it hadn't been recorded! Some wanted to hear it again!

2007 - Duo make a return visit.

Hannah Sawle (Mezzo-soprano) and Jennifer Carter (piano) gave a concert on April 21st at the home of Tim and Fiona Lunt. This concert was given to raise funds for the choir's Spring concert in 2008.

The invited audience was treated to a programme of music by Rossini, Gurney, Poulenc, Brahms Strauss, Debussy, List, Grainger, Gounod, Walton and Lehar. Both performers, who are in their early twenties, displayed a maturity and professionalism well beyond their years. From the first piece it was obvious that these two knew their repertoire and very quickly had a rapport with their audience. Each piece, played or sung, was introduced with just enough information to whet the appetite - the audience was not disappointed. Hannah's range is brilliant and whether singing in her high or low register all notes were discharged with meticulous care. Likewise, Jennifer's playing displayed the same attention to detail. Her technique is brilliant. The piano was not as responsive as she would have wanted but this did not detract from her ability to make it sound like "a piano". Well done to these two fine performers. Let's hope that we hear more of them in the future.

November 2007.

WCS were in concert with St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir in St Petrocs Church, Bodmin. Over £700 was raised for Cancer Research UK. The large audience liked the variety and styles of both choirs. Again. many people enjoyed the combined piece at the end of the concert.

Christmas 2008

A packed church were enthralled with the performance of Poulenc's "Gloria". The young soloist, Kirsty Rowe, sang the solo parts with assurance and her diction was flawless. This young lady really has a great future. The choir sang carols from around the world and most in their native tongue. The audience also enjoyed their mince pies and mulled wine during the interval! All in all, the evening was a tremendous success and, as the title suggested, was indeed a "Welcome to Christmas".

Spring Concert 2009

The hall at Wadebridge school was filled to hear the choir perform two works of differing styles. Hiawtha's Wedding Feast by S Coleridge Taylor, with Tenor soloist Thomas Loyn and Jo Naylor at the piano, "this is a work that should be performed more often", -  said the members of the audience who were enthralled by the performance. The choir sang with conviction and their diction was perfect even with the Indian words and phrases! The second piece was Requiem by Fauré. The soloists were, Ian Hardy - Baritone and Rebecca Moon - Soprano. The orchestra, led by Philip Montgomery Smith, were excellent throughout.

Christmas 2009

A packed church heard the society perform the Magnificat by Finzi with Robert Millington playing the recently refurbished organ. This is truly a majestic piece and the choir rose to the occasion. The audience were treated to a selection of carols some of which were accompanied by Jo Naylor their rehearsal pianist. Two new arrangement were also performed. "There is no rose" by Robert Millington who also conducted the choir for this piece and "Noel Nouvelet" arranged by the choir's Director of Music, Tony Tournoff.

The choir also sang the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah as part of the BBC's "Sing Hallelujah". A retiring collection in aid of "Children in need" resulted in a magnificent total of £330.

This annual concert has become a firm favourite with the audience - especially the mulled wine and mince pies!