News

Our remaining concert dates for 2024 are 9th November – Remembrance and 14th December. Details to follow.

In 2024 the choir will be raising funds for the local charity New Chapters.

In 2023 the choir raised £4,325 for Rufus’ Friends’ Fund and £336 for Myton Hospice.

Saturday 9th November 7.30 pm at the Royal Leamington Spa Centre, Village Voices will be performing as part of Warwick District Remembers Concert & Drum Head Service.

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.

 

Members of the choir sang at Galanos House in Southam. The care home is exclusively for the Armed Services community and the choir was invited to perform a number of their favourite pieces of music, old and not so old, for residents and family at the home.

 

 

We had a lovely response to our performance, we even had some of the audience dancing to our version of Rock around the Clock!