SING AWAY!

April 9 saw a coachload of 38 members of KCS journeying to Knighton, in Powys, to take part in an Awayday, at which we rehearsed and performed Vivaldi’s Gloria and three items from the European Sacred Music Book – Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine, Mozart’s Ave Verum, and Mendelssohn’s Verleih uns Frieden.

At the Church Hall we were joined by very welcome additional singers, both local and from further afield. The morning and afternoon sessions brought us up to a reasonable performance standard, and we proceeded to present the works in a short early-evening concert in St. Edward’s Parish Church. A pleasing number of people had gathered to hear us, and they were very appreciative of our efforts.

Nicole Stone, a member of Wyre Forest Young Voices, excelled in the soprano and contralto solos in the Gloria, and Mike Elden was as usual our accomplished and versatile accompanist.

Neil Warrington thanked us on behalf of the audience, praising our singing and inviting us to return next year when he will be organising a musical weekend.

The day included breaks for a picnic lunch and a quick tour of the town, and was rounded off with a very good meal at the Horse and Jockey Inn, a short distance from the church.

We left Knighton at 8.30 pm., tired, but satisfied and happy after a challenging and a friendly day. Our grateful thanks to Pauline in particular for once again organising a splendid event.

Ray Harrowing