Author: VV-Admin

Our Christmas Concert, Amid The Falling Snow, was held on 14th December 7.30pm at St. Nicholas Church, Warwick, where we raised £1,800 for New Chapters, our chosen charity for 2024.

Joining us in concert were:

Musical Director: Kieron Howe who has a long list of musical achievements and commitments, and the choir is so fortunate ‘he took us on’ in 2022.

Pianist: Roger Haygreen, our accompanist since 2010. Like Kieron he has a long list of musical achievements and we don’t know what we would do without him!

Flute: Sophie Robertson who plays flute in North Leamington Wind Band, Warwickshire County Wind Band, the recent Swan Youth Orchestra course and more.

Pianist: Julie Edwards an accomplished musician who directs and plays for Southam Melodymakers and is the accompanist for a number of singing groups.

Singing Group: Singing for Fun run by Kieron and set up in 2017 as a new enterprise of Warwickshire County Council’s Adult & Community Learning Team. It provides wonderful musical, health-giving and bonding experiences with a membership of at least 30.

Clarinet: Peter Wimpenny, a member of Village Voices and multi-instrument soloist and folk band player.

Concert Programme

Below are some recordings from the concert:

Village Voices

Amid the Falling Snow Words: Roma Ryan, Music: Enya & Nicky Ryan

Ding Dong! Merrily on High 16th century French melody, arr. Peter Hunt

Village Voices and Singing for Fun

Te Harinui – Christmas song from New Zealand Willow Mack, arr. Wendy Sergeant

Village Voices

Coventry Carol 16th century English, arr. Martin Shaw

Shepherd’s Pipe Carol Words and music by John Rutter

Village Voices and Singing for Fun

Gaudete Piae Cantiones, 1582

Village Voices

Love Came Down Words: Cristina Rosetti, Music: Craig McLeish

Away in a Manger 19th century American, Melody: W.J Kirkpatrick

Winter Waltz Based on the poem Winter Waltz by Christy Ann Martine, Music: Wendy Sergeant

On Saturday 20th July 7.30pm at Dale Street Methodist Church, Leamington CV32 5HL Village Voices presented a concert to a packed audience in aid of the local charity New Chapters, which included:

Movements from Zimbe! – Alexander L’Estrange,
Adiemus – Karl Jenkins,
Sing Gently – Eric Whitacre,
Greater Love – Ireland,
Locus Iste – Bruckner,
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton,
Something Inside So Strong – Labi Siffre.

As Alexander L’Estrange turns 50, Karl Jenkins turns 80, and Anton Bruckner would have been 200, Village Voices celebrated some of their fabulous music with space for celebration and reflection.

 

We also remembered the 110th anniversary of the start of WWI and the 80th anniversary of D-Day with John Ireland’s music setting the words ‘Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’.

Concert Programme

We invited the audience to bathe in the beautiful sounds of Eric Whitacre’s Sing Gently and finished the concert back in Africa with Labi Siffre’s empowering Something Inside So Strong.

Those attending were also captivated by the amazingly talented brothers: Edouard Scherer on alto saxophone and Martin Scherer on Euphonium, who added an extra musical dimension to the evening.

Very many thanks to our musical director, Kieron Howe and accompanist, Roger Haygreen, for making the evening such a resounding success.

Also many thanks to all those behind the scenes, including those who prepared the raffle prizes and sold tickets; provided the delicious refreshments and the catering team; and those who moved all the furniture before and after the concert.

Not forgetting those who organised the concert and created and distributed the publicity material.

Finally, many thanks to Dale Street Methodist Church for allowing us to use their lovely venue.

Below are some recordings from the concert:

This is Home by Sophia Efthimiou

Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton arr. Roger Emerson

Something Inside So Strong by Labi Siffre arr. Jonathan Wikeley

Siyahamba & Freedom is Coming Traditional arr. Alexander L’Estrange

Sing Gently by Eric Whitacre

Roses of Picardy lyrics by Fred E. Weatherley music Haydn Wood arr. Peter Irvine

Greater Love Hath No Man by John Ireland

Locus Iste by Anthon Bruckner

Adiemus by Karl Kenkins

I will Sing with the Spirit by John Rutter

 

At the start of our choir session on Thursday evening 16th May, Irene, who had requested we support the local charity Rufus’ Friends’ Fund in 2023, presented a cheque for £4,325 on behalf of the choir to representatives of the charity.

 

Village Voices and guests held a ‘Spring Sing’ Concert on Saturday 23rd March at 7.30pm St Nicholas Church, Radford Semele, which raised £1,125 in aid of the local charity New Chapters.

The packed audience was entertained by a variety of popular songs – old and newish – and enjoyed listening to the wonderful soloists Abby Taylor and Eva Hope, plus a rare public appearance of the Front Room Attic Band, with special guest Peter Wimpenny on banjo and saxophone. Please click on the link below for the full programme details.

Concert Programme

Very many thanks to our musical director, Kieron Howe and accompanist, Roger Haygreen, for making the evening such a resounding success.

Also many thanks for all those behind the scenes, including those who prepared the raffle prizes and sold tickets; Top Nosh for providing the delicious refreshments and the catering team; and those who moved all the furniture before and after the concert.

Not forgetting those who organised the concert and created and distributed the publicity material.

Finally, many thanks to St Nicholas Church for allowing us to use their lovely venue.

We have one video from the concert, Kiss from a Rose:

 

Below are some audio recordings of the concert:

Village Voices

Wind Beneath My Wings by Harry Henley & Jeff Soilbar Arr. Roger Emerson

When I’m 64 by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Kiss from a Rose by Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel Arr. Timothy Allen

Can You Feel the Love Tonight Music Elton John, Lyrics Tim Rice Arr. Keith Christopher

 

Front Room Attic Band & Village Voices

Wagon Wheel by Bob Dylan & Ketch Secor of the Old Crow Medicine Show

Slow Train by Hans Theessink

Singing The Blues by Melvin Endsley

 

Village Voices

Sloop John B Traditional Bahamas folksong Arr. Gwyn Arch

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen Arr. Roger Emerson

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle

Believer by Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Sermon, Benjamin McKee, Daniel Platzman, Justin Tranter, Mattias Larsson & Robon Fredricksson Arr. Mark Brymer

 

The Choir + Peter Wimpenny on Sax, Roger Haygreen on piano, Ian Moore on Bass Guitar & Nigel Hulme on Drums

Rock Around the Clock by Mac C Freedman & Jimmy De Knight Arr. Geoff Funk