THE Stuart singers performed their eagerly awaited Christmas concert and with it, gave early musical Christmas presents to capacity audiences at Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton.

They began with Martin Shaw’s - With a Voice of Singing - Hallelujah !

Their programme included an eclectic mix of both traditional and non-traditional music.

The choir not only rose to this challenge but showed great precision of singing with a good balance of voices. The programme mix included John Rutter carols, Cole Porter musical extracts and such pieces as John Hewitt’s Ragtime carol and Holiday Rock by Berta and Sonja Poorman, not forgetting audience participation in singing a couple of carols.

Howard Blake’s - Walking in the Air was given a wonderful interpretation by Rosie-Jane Widdowson (11 years of age) who led the choir with a sensitive and confident solo which received well deserved acclaim from the audience.

Barrie Cooper as always provided magnificent accompaniment throughout but, as usual, introduced his usual humour with his version of The Twelve Days of Christmas - an attempt you would have thought to confuse the choir, the musical director and the audience, but of course providing immense enjoyment.

The choir also included a moving tribute to the memory of Nelson Mandela by the singing of the hymn, Siyahamba.

Donations were made to four beneficaries: The Gloucester Royal Intensive Care Unit, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Holy Trinity Church and to Five Valleys Sound.

The Stuart Singers, under the musical direction of Helen Sims and their accompanist Barrie Cooper, continue to provide a wide and exciting repertoire. The musical ability and confidence of this choir continues to grow apace such that the audience are given unique and refreshing performances.