Monday, 31 December 2012

Happy New Year

A very Happy and Prosperous New Year to choirs and singers everywhere.

Saturday, 29 December 2012

A nice review... & more work!

Had a nice e-mail with a very nice review of our Christmas concert.  It's going in the Woldingham magazine February edition (January's already out!) and I've sent a copy to Ian D to put in the New Year Consortium.
I reproduce the review here as it's so heart-warming to be appreciated;



Berry Butler recalls a magical evening

I was so glad to be in the audience in St Paul’s Church, Woldingham on Saturday 15 December for a Christmas Family Carol Concert performed by the excellent North Downs Consort, with enjoyable readings from Sue and Roger Simpson of the Woldingham Players and perfect organ solos from Ian le Grice.  The rich selection of Christmas material included pieces by Rutter, Poulenc, Handel, Howells, Willcocks and Vaughan Williams – with some traditional carols for us all to sing together.  The Concert was conducted with flair by Paul Provost – only the fourth Music Director of the Consort in over 30 years – and under his highly competent and enthusiastic direction we had a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring evening.              BHB

With thanks and kind acknowledgements to Berry Butler.  I've also been hard at work preparing rehearsal CDs for members so that they are ready for the first rehearsal on 7 Jan.  Still they're all done now.

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

It's almost Christmas

It's 18th December and I've been very remiss in not posting anything all this term!  The October concert in aid of the Village Memorial fund went very well and we were able to donate £500 to the fund. Very good reviews and comments from many of those who came, but it was a bit disappointing that there were not as many folk from Woldingham in the audience as I'd hoped.

We were invited to sing at the Lingfield Church Christmas Tree Festival on December 8th, together with a young student who played flute and harp - so talented at such a young age!  John Sharples, a former organist at Lingfield accompanied us and also played a couple of organ pieces.

On Saturday 15th December we gave our Christmas concert in St Paul's - remarkably well received, with an audience of almost 100.  Great fun, with "Twelve Days of Christmas", " I saw three ships" and a slushy encore of John Rutter's "I wish you Christmas"

Finally, yesterday evening, a number of us got together for a drink and socialise at Botley Hill Farmhouse, something we haven't done for some time.  A nice end to an action packed term

See you all on 7th January!