Strathmore Concert

Back after a two-year absence to the delightful Strathmore Uniting Church, which was overflowing with patrons, with extra seats in the central aisle.

After the rousing opening number Gwŷr Harlech, these patrons were able to immediately flex their tonsils by lustily singing the English verses with the words handily reproduced in the program.

Ballarat chapter administration leader John White, on his début as compère, introduced the Welsh bracket of We’ll Keep a Welcome, led by Roger Bartlett, before Calon Lân and the pacifist sentiments of Y Tangnefeddwyr (The Peacemakers).

Drew Hopkins and Rushan Hewawasam melodiously combined on the duet Perhaps Love before the romantic theme continued with a sensitive a cappella rendering of Myfanwy. Back to WW1 with We’ll Gather Lilacs by Welshman Ivor Novello (real name David Ivor Davies), which was obviously well-known by the very musical audience as they sang along to the second half of the number and a reprise. Bette Midler’s The Rose was nurtured on this very cold afternoon before Roger stepped up to the microphone once again to lead the choir into You’ll Never Walk Alone. Three lines in, however, and Roger surprised everyone by asking Lorna to stop. He explained that so many patrons were singing along with him that it was only fitting that we invited the entire audience to accompany the choir in the rest of the number. And so it came to pass – a beautiful extempore moment which everyone cherished.

Our mining segment commenced with an understated but powerful a cappella rendition of Prince Among Men by Bob Ash before an equally stunning Working Man from fellow bass and local man Barry McMahon.

Faleiry rehearsed the assembly in When the Saints Go Marching In before the choir masterfully took on the John Rutter arrangement with the audience enthusiastically giving their all in the final choruses…and then doing it all again to arrive at the interval.

The second half posed the question What Would I Do Without My music before compère John White gave the background to the two Paul Jarman songs Land of my Song, with solos by Bob and Geoff Roberts, and the stirring Pemulwuy, both of which received resounding applause.

The main finale was the medley from Les Misérables with heart-rending solos from Rushan on I Dreamed a Dream and by Roger on Bring Him Home.

This was followed by the special arrangement of Waltzing Matilda with solos by Drew and Bob, with the words of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau weaving their magic in the final choruses magnetising half a dozen Welsh people in the church to stand tall and straight for their familiar Welsh National Anthem – a wonderful and proud moment.

Ann Black thanked us on behalf of the church and presented flowers to Faleiry and Lorna. We, in turn, thanked her and the lovely Strathmore audience by surrounding them to bid them a sincere farewell with Sunset Poem.