Woodend Winter Arts Festival

Victoria Welsh Choir at the Woodend Winter Festival

The choir was delighted to take part in the Winter Festival at the Woodend Community Centre for the first time, performing on Saturday 10 June.

One of six choirs featured, each with a 45-minute set, the event provided cosy green room moments and the occasional careful manoeuvre up the steeply raked stage. Choristers from all three VicWelsh chapters were in attendance, including the “Three Musikateers” from Echuca and compère Garry Salisbury.

A full house of warmly dressed patrons and strong stage lighting ensured every choir received a warm welcome. VicWelsh opened with Cwm Rhondda, which ended with the audience eagerly joining in for the well-known choruses. This was followed by the softer Ar Lan y Môr, the upbeat Calon Lân, and the always rousing Gwŷr Harlech.

Faleiry passed the baton to Rushan, with Tony Hosemans leading the choir and audience in a moving rendition of Danny Boy. John White then introduced Pacem in Latin, followed by Y Tangnefeddwyr (The Peacemakers), and a very spirited version of Green, Green Grass of Home, brought to life by Roger Bartlett and Geoff Roberts.

Barry McMahon’s commanding bass voice led the choir in Working Man before launching into the special arrangement of When the Saints Go Marching In. Audience participation was lively, with some ladies reaching impressive high notes that prompted accompanist Lorna to award an impromptu “Top A”.

For the finale, the choir performed Waltzing Matilda and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau simultaneously, sparking another round of enthusiastic singing and long applause. A chilly night outside, but the warmth inside made for a memorable and heartening evening.