Concert with Ogmore Valley Male Voice Choir
There was a terrific concert on Saturday June 6 at Churchdown Community Centre when Churchdown Male Voice Choir hosted its friends the Ogmore Valle Male Voice Choir.
Both choirs were in excellent form and gave the packed hall an evening of well-loved songs and some great soloists. The Ogmore choir under its conductor Eira Paskin, sang a wide range of songs; from What have they done (to the rain) to the Leonard Cohen hit, Hallelujah, and from Unchained Melody to American Trilogy, which weaves together American folk songs, All my trials, Dixie and Battle Hymn of the Republic.
The Churchdown choir under its Musical Director, John Blenkinsopp was particular effective in With a voice of singing, African Prayer and Sing for your life and both choirs joined together to perform Comrades in Arms and, as a final song, Gwahoddiad.
Ralph Barnes, who also conducted the choir in two songs, sang Places from Out of Africa, and the host choir’s Jeff Bourton sang Solitaire by Neil Sedaka. Phil Davies, secretary of the Ogmore choir then sang a song about the closing of the mines in the Ogmore Valley, for which he admitted to have pinched the words, added a few and set it to music.
The concert was in support of the Gloucester Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and a particular moving part of the concert was when 12 sufferers of the disease sang a few songs that they asked the audience to join in with. Singing has been shown to improve neurological pathways that can help to lift depression and improve self confidence. In her vote of thanks the manager of the Gloucester Branch, Ann Carter, said the branch has been running ‘Sing for the Brain’ sessions and the money raised from the concert will go towards funding the sessions that will restart in September 2009.
Presentations were made to the soloists, the two accompanists and the Music Directors. Pete Wilson, the choir chairman, then presented a cut -crystal bowl to the chair of the Ladies' Committee Janet Acton, who has supported her husband Colin through almost 40 years with the choir and who, along with the Ladies' Committe, has provided refreshments at many of the choir's concert, including the three nights of Christmas Concerts every year.
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John Blenkinsopp with some of the Sing for the Brain singers
Churchdown Male Voice Choir
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