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A jolly choir Christmas 

DECEMBER 16 2019: The choir welcomed Christmas with a resoundingly successful concert for the Croydon Welsh Society on Saturday.  Performed at its customary venue of Shirley Methodist church, the concert ranged from familiar carols to more recent items in the choir’s repertoire, including a thrilling version of the Carly Simon anthem Let the River Run which was the final item in the concert and was sung for the first time.

CMVC sings Christmas songs at Croydon Welsh  (photo Steve Scott)

 

Other popular numbers included the moving Always on my Mind and the pirate pastiche Song of the Jolly Roger, where choir members performed in eye patches and pirate hats and displayed a skull and crossbones banner, culminating in exuberant arm-waving for the final “yo ho’s”.

The Croydon pirates let rip (Steve Scott)

The choir was conducted by Roger Pinsent, now embarking on his second year as CMVC music director. It was complemented by the Stratus trio, featuring choir accompanist Nat Brawn on violin and colleagues Sam Grew (cello) and Zak Rodwell on piano.  Their affecting performances of several popular ballads drew prolonged applause.

At the end of the concert, Croydon Welsh Society president John Jenkins thanked the choir profusely and declared that it had been the best Croydon Welsh Christmas concert ever. The concert closed with a stirring collective rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau - the Welsh national anthem. 

Sharing Christmas spirit at the Whitgift Centre

The concert followed the first of the choir’s regular Christmas sings at the Whitgift Centre, which took place on Sunday 8 December and benefited the Crisis at Christmas charity.  A second Whitgift appearance is planned for Sunday 22 December.