Archive Concert Reports

The choir was delighted to be a part of the NAC (National Association of Choirs) splendid conference and concert weekend held in Bristol on the weekend of 4/5/6 April. It was a pleasure to hear 5 such different choirs and each one acquitted itself brilliantly. Our contribution comprised five songs, two of which were from the operatic stage, Entrance and March of the Peers, from Iolanthe and The Huntsman's Chorus from Die Freischutz. Also, Sing for your life, a song by Alan Simmons, seemed to go down particularly well. In tribute to a late friend of the choir, Ken Dinham, from Bristol, we also sang two arrangements by him, Jubilate and Kwymbayah.

Churchdown personnel also played further parts in the weekend. Our vice president Sue Wilson presented the concert in her usual calm and professional manner and pianist Pam Taverner accompanied all 5 choirs in a glorious performance of Morte Criste, which earned a well deserved repeat performance for the large audience.

Following the dinner on Friday night, Jeff Bourton, a soloist from the Churchdown choir accompanied by pianist Pam Taverner gave a performance which he entitled 'Music through the century' a collection of songs from the last hundred years. Including such songs as On The Street Where You Live, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, You Raise Me Up, etc., the recital made a splendid after dinner entertainment.

On Saturday the choir's favourite soprano, Sue Black, ran two master classes for choirs. The first one included breathing exercises, breath control, vowel sounds and voice production. The second session worked on the rehearsal of the Howard Goodhall song, Love Divine. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and in Sue's words, 'we all laughed a lot'. Sue is a great supporter of our choir and has been on almost all of our choir tours since 1981. She is a great asset to any organisation and is equally at home singing with choirs, orchestras, comic or grand opera.

Our MD John Blenkinsopp is taking a short sabbatical to direct a performance of Iolanthe with a local operatic society. So, our 28 year-old Assistant MD Ralph Barnes will be leading the choir from the end of May until November. It will be interesting to see what a young approach will make to the choir. Ralph will be in charge for the concert of Voices and Brass on September 27 in Churchdown Community Centre. We will be hosting the brilliant PolySteel Band in a concert in support of Sue Ryder Homes.

A packed hall was a fitting tribute to a man whose memory was being honoured in a concert in Churchdown. Charlie Roberts, a long-serving member of Churchdown Male Voice Choir died last month from pneumonia in Cheltenham General Hospital. From his late teens, Charlie had suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT), a hereditary condition that causes wasting and weakness of the muscles. He never let his condition interfere with his enjoyment of life, however, and he was an inspiration to anyone suffering from a similar complaint. In memory of such a friendly and likeable man the choir committee organised a concert for him, "Memories of Charlie' in Churchdown Community Centre. A friend to everyone, Charlie was in the Planning Department at Moog Controls Limited in Ashchurch and was a keen follower of rugby, cricket and horse racing. Friends and colleagues from all of his different interests in life were represented at the concert, as well as choir wives and supporters.

The concert began with an arrangement by the choir's MD John Blenkinsopp of the East Dean Grammar School Song, the school which Charlie attended as a boy in Cinderford. The choir's chaplain, Reverend Marilyn Sharland opened with a prayer for both Charlie and Den Ripley, a choir member who had also died since Christmas. There then followed a concert of songs chosen as a fitting tribute to this popular Forrester. Rhythm of life, Bohemian Rhapsody, Sing for your life, My heart will go on, You'll never walk alone, Take me home and others were selected as favourites of both Charlie and audiences alike. Three of his favourite soloists were also there to add their own tributes. Ralph Barnes sang Linden Lea and Fields of Athenry and Jeff Bourton sang Can you feel the love tonight from Lion King, Daniel O'Donnell's hit You raise me up and the Tom Jones song Delilah. The choir's favourite soprano Sue Black then sang Wind beneath my wings and Summertime from Porgy and Bess. As an addition to the programme, Neil Roberts paid tribute to his father in a moving speech and then introduced young James Henley, the 9 year - old son of his partner, Niki, who played the clarinet. Neil said that James had never played for Charlie, and now that's what he wanted to do. He played Twinkle, twinkle little star to great applause from the audience. Meirion Jones, fellow choir member and good friend told of Charlie's courage, strength, and good nature, but above all, his sense of fun. He illustrated this latter quality with reference to some antics of them both on choir tours.

Simon Shorrock, a trustee of CMT UK, was presented with a cheque by Andrew Chalmers, choir chairman, who indicated that this was only an interim donation as the money raised in the raffle had not been included. It was later revealed that the raffle had raised almost £400, further proof of the strength of feeling for Charlie by the large audience. To round off the evening a supper was served by the Ladies Committee of choir wives. As someone said "Charlie would have been very proud of the choir and of the whole evening"