Musicals Christmas raises £935 for Newbury church and Parkinson's charities

The Cromwell Singers: A ‘Musicals’ Christmas at John’s Church, Newbury on Saturday, December 11. Review by CAROLYN GREENWOOD

To sing As Long as I Have Music (Besig/Price) at the start of their concert could not have been a more appropriate choice for Cromwell Singers.

Typifying as it does the feelings expressed by so many over the last two years as we all tried to learn to live with restrictions and frustrations, it was the final item they had sung immediately prior to Covid lockdown and perfectly echoed the feelings of those of us who attended this Christmas concert. Performers and audience were all so glad to be back together and the smiles and sparkling eyes of the performers as they opened their concert brought immediate enthusiasm and empathy to the fore.

Under their recently-appointed very professionally experienced musical director and one-time accompanist to the choir Trevor Defferd, the musicians brought us a wealth of musical enjoyment. As the programme title indicates, there were songs from a selection of musicals including South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge and Fiddler on the Roof and The Phantom of the Opera – yes, quite an undertaking.

For me it was particularly interesting to hear lesser-known songs alongside all-time-favourites, requiring mood and tempo changes from the performers. As well as some robust singing from full choir in some items there were more dark and sombre aspects which the choir portrayed well. In items requiring higher registers, there were occasional tuning problems but quick recovery was achieved. A number of individual choir members contributed solos in several of the items and were well-received by the audience.

In part two, there was a chance for audience participation in several carols and the choir’s more hushed tones in some beautiful and reverent carol arrangements, including those by John Rutter and David Willcocks.

The piano accompaniment provided by Jevan Johnson Booth, who is well-known in local musical circles, benefited from her versatility and drive in a programme requiring varying styles of expertise and accomplishment.

Guest saxophonist Joe Pollard wowed the audience with his spirited instrumental items in some clever and often complex rhythms and tempi. Ranging from Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John and Tim Rice) and an electrifying Defying Gravity from Wicked (Schwartz), Joe was able to demonstrate the skills he has developed since starting to play the saxophone at the age of 10 and passing Grade 8 when he was 15.

Items with the choir included White Christmas and to finish the concert Felix Bernard’s Winter Wonderland. When it was announced that his recent audition/interview at The Guildhall School of Music had been successful in gaining him a place to study there, the applause from everyone spoke volumes.

Very amusing readings by choir member Pam Bauer of Jan Beaumont’s Let’sAll Drink to Lockdown” and Pam Ayres’ Goodwill – give us your money, brought hilarity to the proceedings, and Choir member Bruce Burnell read his own poem The Twelve Verses of Christmas, which was delightfully topical and cleverly worded.

The proceeds of the concert were to be split between St John’s Church and the local branch of Parkinson’s UK, whose chairman Peter Sidell gave a very informative and upbeat talk about local activities and support.

The Rev Gary Collins was a friendly, amusing and welcoming host to the evening’s heartwarming event on this dark, wet and chilly night, to which we all had to retreat after a thoroughly cheering.

The concert in total raised £935 from a raffle and the retiring collection.