2012 Lacey Green Singers

Hallmark August 2012. Lacey Green Singers report by Gavin Mole (click Gavin & Cher Mole for more about Gavin)

On Saturday 2 June at St John’s Church, Lacey Green, we were treated to an ambitious programme of choral music that had been heard fifty-nine years ago at the coronation of our present queen, Elizabeth Il.

The programme of music was interspersed with excerpts from the 1953 Order of Service read with authority by Brian Panter.

“| Was Glad” by C. Hubert Parry was followed by Handel’s ever popular ‘Zadok The Priest” with Kate Laughton, Jo Saul and Fiona Insley giving the piece an orchestral feel with their excellent violin accompaniment. The work was conducted by Ben Saul with energy and precision.

We were then treated to three unaccompanied works, ‘Rejoice in the Lord’ (att. John Redford) ‘I will not leave you comfortless’ (William Byrd) ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace’ (S S Wesley). The group had a little trouble with the ensemble but this was remedied after a restart and the result was an excellent performance, enjoyed by all.

After the hymn, ‘All people that on earth do dwell’ that we all joined in, Sereta Parker sang the solo beautifully in R Vaughan Williams ‘O taste and see’.

C. V. Stanford’s ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ and the hymn ‘Jerusalem’ completed the programme before we all sang ‘God Save The Queen’.

The evening was a triumph and received with great enthusiasm by the large audience: The Lacey Green Singers had worked with great care under the excellent musical direction of Fiona Insley, and mention was made of the talented and patient accompanist Alan Lewis who had been involved with the many months of rehearsal. For the performance the organ was used and was played superbly by Sam Laughton.

After the concert the audience stayed for wine and nibbles in the church. The evening was a great success!

Hallmark August 2012 Lacey Green Singers at the Royal Albert Hall. reporter - Norman Tyler

Lacey Green Singers were some of about 2,500 in the chorus performing the Mozart Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall on Sat 12 May. As previously, some of the singers came from as far away as Canada and even Australia. The singers were split up according to their singing pitch. Sopranos were above and out of sight from us.

All the audience enjoyed the whole evening I'm sure. I think most of them were friends or family of the performers.

The programme also included Mendelssohn's orchestral favourites Hebrides Overture and Violin Concerto, played by The English Festival Orchestra and the conductor was Jonathan Willcocks. Soloists included 4 singers and a violinist.

Our coach left the School at 2.30pm and arrived exactly an hour later at the Albert Hall, where the singers rehearsed for an hour from 4.30 and this time we had dinner at the Hall's own Consort

Restaurant in comfortable time for the concert at 7.30. The coach home was even quicker and reached the school, where we'd parked our cars, at about 10.50pm.

Altogether a marvellous experience! Thank you, Ursula Glyn Jones, for all the hard work & efficiency you put into it for us all!