Combined triumph at summer concert

18 July: The choir staged a magnificent summer concert on Saturday, doing so with the Côr y Gyrlais choir from South Wales.  It was a stunning double performance at St Mildred’s, Addiscombe,  with each choir singing two sets of its own and combining twice for a total of four numbers.  The packed audience was in raptures, acclaiming the two choirs for creating a brilliant choral evening.

Andrew conducts CMVC (photo Seth Gillman)

The concert, which also honoured its patrons, who contribute so much to its activities and well-being, began with the first CMVC set, three pieces ending with Star of the County Down.  Sam Prouse, CMVC accompanist who also played for the Welsh choir, then treated the audience to Franck’s Choral  3 in A minor on the church’s superb organ.

Next came the first Côr y Gyrlais set, followed by the two choirs combining to sing American Trilogy and You’ll Never Walk Alone, conducted by the CyG MD, Peter Totterdale.

Peter Totterdale conducts CyG

Côr y Gyrlais performed first after the interval, followed by a second Sam Prouse organ performance, Bach’s St Anne Fugue.  CMVC then stepped up for its final set which included its first public performance of the Proclaimers number Sunshine on Leith.  CMVC MD Andrew Moore admitted he was particularly nervous about conducting the song as it was his arrangement.  He gave the choir an appreciative thumbs-up afterwards.

Interesting shot of section of CyG during performance*

The two choirs combined again, this time conducted by Andrew, to sing Divine Brahma and Gwahoddiad, in a mixture of English and Welsh.  For a thunderous finale the combined choir sang the Welsh national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers) entirely in Welsh, conducted by Peter.  It was cheered by an ecstatic audience, several of whom were visibly in tears.  Others revealed afterwards that the joint version of You’ll Never Walk Alone had also moved them to tears.

CyG's Peter conducts combined choir (photo Seth Gillman)

The two choirs adjourned to a spirited apres at Sandilands, where CyG chair Terry Flynn thanked CMVC for sharing such a superb event with them, and hoped that there would be a repeat performance before too long. CyG's Graham Wickison agreed, adding: "We all loved being part of your celebration, bringing Wales to an appreciative English audience and enjoying CMVC's musical accomplishment with your fantastic sound....thanks for hosting us and we look forward to performing with you again, diolch."** 

*CyG invited CMVC members who knew two of their songs in Welsh to join them on stage. A total of five did so: Dave Bannister, Roger Lee and Roger Parkinson (the three depicted in the back row), plus Dick Jones and Steve Scott. 

**diolch = thankyou