Join us at All Saints’ Parish Church, Leamington Spa CV31 1AA on Saturday 19th July 2025 at 19:30 for All the World’s a Stage – (Seven Ages of Man) concert, a night of entertainment and talent with Village Voices Choir and Cubbington Silver Band. Proceeds are in aid of Warwickshire Vision.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy as local performers showcase their skills on stage. There’s something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Don’t miss out on this exciting event that promises to be a night to remember.
TICKETS £15.00 – Accompanied children under 12 FREE to enter. Doors Open 7.00 p.m.
Tickets available from members of the choir, on the door and also from Eventbrite.
Thursday 8th May 2025 the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The choir sang in the early evening at a short service of Remembrance at Leamington Spa War Memorial.
Village Voices sang “Only Remembered” from Warhorse and the lovely hymn “Nearer My God to Thee”.
About Zimbe! A note from the composer Alexander L’Estrange.
Zimbe is an Anglicised version of the Swahili word ‘Ziimbe’. meaning ‘Sing Them’, Just as others have shared these wonderful songs with me, I wish to pass them on now. Scored for SATB choir, unison children’s choir and jazz quintet, with copious percussion, the settings reflect my own musical make up. Within the piece we find references to jazz, pop, the Western choral tradition and, of course, world music.
African songs are easy to learn and impossible to forget; that is the very nature of the communal song tradition. The songs I have chosen to arrange are fun, moving and infectiously tuneful – and through them we find ourselves in a wonderfully simple, joyous realm where music imitates life and life inspires music. I hope you enjoy ZIMBE!
The photograph of Alexander was taken at the choir’s last rehearsal on the 3rd April 2025 before the concert, when the choir made a presentation to thank him for his very energetic and inspiring session.
Alexander L’Estrange is a fresh and exciting voice in choral music. With roots in the British choral tradition and a successful international career as a jazz musician and arranger. Alexander has been described by composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall as ‘the ideal 21st-century musician’, an accolade acknowledging not just his outstanding musicianship but also his huge versatility.
Helen was born in Warwickshire and started playing the piano at the early age of 5. She later took up the French horn and went on to study music performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Since coming back to the area, she has accompanied a variety of groups including Espressivo Chorus, Sing It Loud, Alcester Male Voice Choir and the Hadland School of Dance. She also frequently accompanies music exam candidates.
During the day she currently works for Warwickshire Music, teaching brass instruments in schools in and around Warwick. Helen has performed in a variety of places including Symphony Hall in Birmingham and underneath the Statue of Liberty!
The church was absolutely packed. Our musical director, Kieron Howe, did a brilliant job, as did Helen Pugh, the jazz quintet and Warwickshire Youth Choirs, in making the evening a resounding success.
Kieron Engaging the Audience
Jazz Quintet & Choir
Jazz Quintet & Part Choir
Jazz Quintet
Audience & Choir
Many thanks go to all those behind the scenes who helped to organise and provide for the event – including Top Nosh, our furniture movers, entrance & raffle ticket sellers and those who prepared the raffle prizes.
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.
On the evening of Saturday 9th November at the Spa Centre, Village Voices took part in the moving and reflective act of remembrance known as Warwick District Remembers.
This Is Home
This is Home
Greater Love
Nearer My God
The choir’s repertoire for the Concert included:
Siyahamba, *National Anthem, Something Inside So Strong, This is Home, Harbour,
*Rule Britannia (chorus), *Nearer my God to Thee, Shores of Normandy, Greater Love,
*Jerusalem and *I Vow to Thee my Country. *Denotes audience participation songs.
Very many thanks to our musical director, Kieron Howe and our accompanist, Roger Haygreen, for enabling the choir to perform so effectively. Also many thanks to all those behind the scenes, who worked so hard before, during and after the event.
The choir singing Harbour:
The evening was organised by Adrian Barton and was a mixture of music, poetry, pageantry and religious service that was a fitting homage to remember those who have given their lives in various conflicts.
There is no glory in war and this event did not glorify war. It was an act of remembrance for those who died. Those who find themselves embroiled in conflict do not necessarily do so out of choice, yet their lives come to an abrupt, inglorious end in some far-flung part of the world. Those of us who benefit from their ultimate sacrifice have little to give in return. All we can give to them is remembrance.
They grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
It was a privilege for Village Voices to take part in this act of remembrance.
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’.
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
