Ballarat

“As good as any choir in Cardiff”

The choir travelled to Ballarat on Sunday 18 April 2010 for an afternoon concert at a local church. An opening bracket of hymns included How Great Thou Art featuring a powerful solo by Barry McMahon. Barry’s voice teacher and Victoria Welsh Choir Scholar Janelle Hopman then followed to clutch at the audience’s heartstrings with a dramatic performance of Not While I’m Around from the musical Sweeney Todd.

Under the direction of Associate Director Lyn Henshall the next section included a sensitive rendition of Suo Gân with soloist Stephen Pepper and Janelle transporting the audience All Through the Night.

In this month, as thoughts turn towards ANZAC Day, baritone Bob Ash gave an emotional and thought-provoking solo performance of Eric Bogle’s sardonic And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda.

Faleiry stepped onto the rostrum again for the next three tunes including a virtuoso solo by popular Bendigo chorister Charles Phillips in I’se Weary of Waitin’.

The second half’s opening bracket, under Lyn’s conducting, featured songs from  musical theatre. Two numbers from The Pirates of Penzance were presented. Firstly, bass Graeme Sanderson gave a fine comic solo performance of When a Felon’s Not Engaged in his Employment, complete with truncheon and helmet. Secondly, the choir pretended to be light-footed and light-fingered burglars in With Cat-like Tread.

Following this, Janelle again showed her tremendous vocal versatility with a beautifully modulated version of Defying Gravity, perhaps the standout number from Wicked.

She then remained on stage to solo with the choir on the final medley from Les Mis.

Audience feedback included (per GM):

Just as good as any choir we have heard in Cardiff

A wonderful afternoon – we enjoyed the whole show.

(Per LO):

Clearly evident that the choir members VERY much love and enjoy what they do. This created a wonderful feeling in the audience and made the concert most enjoyable.

A beautiful afternoon, I congratulate the choir in particular for the atmosphere and performance of Speed your Journey. 

Bob Ash’s solo And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda was outstanding, an almost overwhelming item.