Summertime Concert, at St Paul’s Church, Whiteshill
ST PAUL’S Church, Whiteshill, filled to capacity for the Summertime Concert on Friday in the first of a series of celebrations commemorating the 175th Anniversary of the consecration and opening of the church.
Whiteshill & Ruscombe Community Choir were joined by the local Writers’ Group, Cotswold Youth Singers, and Cotswold Players, who presented an eclectic mixed programme.
Following Rev. Brian Wollaston’s introduction, the concert opened with the popular 1960s song “Be My Baby” sung by the community choir.
Musical arrangements for the choir were by Chris Owen.
The choir then combined with Cotswold Youth Singers to sing the hymn Allelula, and were accompanied later by soloists Jess Mitchell-Stead who performed Soualle, and Jess Weaver and Emily Russell, for Lord Bow Thine Ear.
In a break from the music, Sarah King read her story “The Rainbow Serpent” that led seamlessly into flautist Ellen Cook playing the introductory bars of Adieumus, together with the opening voice of Charlotte Greensmith.
Both choirs sang under the skilled direction of musical director, Jane Williams, with piano accompaniment by Lucas Bailey and Bernard Leach respectively.
During the second half, members of the cast from Cotswold Playhouse performed excerpts from their forthcoming production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Aspects of Love”, directed by Rob Mauler, and musical director, Lucas Bailey.
In a further interlude, Pam Keevil read her story “For the love of Irene”.
This was followed by the Cotswold Youth Singers and featured soloists, Ellen Cook and Emma Smith singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'.
In his poem entitled “Summer”, Richard Hensley highlighted the expectations and activities of the season.
Towards the end of the programme, soloist Emily Ham went on to sing 'The Lord Bless You and Keep You'.
The closing song “Do You Hear the People Sing” from Les Misérables included soloists Dan Holden, Sarah Kilminster, Jenny Bell and Val Griffiths, who were joined by all performers for the rousing chorus.
Voluntary donations, together with funds raised from a raffle in aid of St Paul’s Community Projects, raised to a grand a total of £1,024.
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